Souq Al-Juma rejects reliance on publicity-driven projects
LIBYA – Souq Al-Juma Municipality has held the central government politically and administratively responsible for failings in the rainwater drainage system, which it said led to flooding, road closures, cut-off entrances to neighbourhoods and disruption to residents’ movements on Tuesday. It rejected what it described as the turning of public projects into publicity facades that do not hold up when it rains.
Statement cites years of neglect and temporary fixes
In a statement, a copy of which was received by Al-Marsad, the municipality said it was following with deep dismay the build-up of water in the area. It argued that what had happened reflected years of neglect, temporary fixes and projects not integrated with urban planning, rather than a sudden disaster that came without warning.
Earlier warnings drew an inadequate response
The municipality said it had repeatedly alerted the central authorities to the absence of an integrated rainwater drainage network and had called for the problem to be addressed. According to the statement, however, the response of the relevant authorities did not match the seriousness of the problem, while road projects went ahead without the measures needed to protect homes and neighbourhoods.
Criticism of how government projects are judged
The municipality said projects should be judged not by their photographs and opening ceremonies but by the soundness of their design, the quality of their execution and their ability to solve problems sustainably. It called for the protection of residents and property to be placed at the top of the government’s responsibilities, with each body acting within its remit.
Urgent action and comprehensive technical studies
It called for urgent action to deal with the flood damage, reopen roads and secure access to affected areas, and for the competent technical bodies to be tasked with preparing urgent, comprehensive studies to design a rainwater drainage system and build it to engineering standards.
Review of roads and accountability
It also called for a review of road projects already completed and those under way to check whether they are integrated with drainage networks, and for those responsible to be held to account for any shortcomings established by a technical assessment.
Sustainable funding and a published implementation plan
The municipality stressed the need to allocate the funds required for a sustainable drainage system, instead of continuing to spend on temporary fixes that allow the crisis to recur every year. It also called for a clear, published timetable setting out the stages of implementation, the bodies responsible, sources of funding, and monitoring and oversight mechanisms.
Call for accountability and protection of residents
The municipality said that continued damage every rainy season was no longer acceptable and could not be blamed on weather conditions alone. Rain is a natural phenomenon, it said, but damage caused by poor planning and weak infrastructure calls for review and accountability. It said it would continue to press for the rights of the area’s residents and rejected leaving citizens alone to bear the cost of delays in dealing with the problem, arguing that the government’s duty is to protect cities and their residents, not merely to announce projects.
