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By Libya Herald reporter.
Ghariyan, 24 February 2015:
The townsfolk of Ghariyan are grappling with land and water pollution after nearly five years . . .[restrict]without a working sewage system.
According to landowners near the defunct Abdel Karim Amer treatment plant, the accumulation of untreated wastewater expelled from the facility since 2010 has led to damaged farmland, an infestation of reptiles, snakes and flies and an awful stench.
The plant, built in 1978, began to fall apart in 2010 and in 2013 stopped working completely, said Director of the Ghariyan Bureau of Water and Sanitation, Khalifa Abu Zahir.
“We have been approved for money from the government to make repairs, but have hit some roadblocks with the contractors,” Abu Zahir said, explaining the reason for the delay in repairs.
Ghariyan Municipal Council member Yusef Gadmour has insisted that bringing the treatment plant back up on line is a top priority for the council.
“Not only do we intend to repair the old station, we have plans with the Office of Housing and Utilities to build a new and improved plant as well,” Gadmour revealed.
According to a manager at the Office of Housing and Utilities, Abdul Karim Souissi, a German company has been contracted for the project and it is estimated that it will take two years to complete.
“For this reason, we have decided to continue to move forward in making the repairs to the old plant in order to confront the potential environmental disaster in Ghariyan as quickly as possible,” Souissi explained. [/restrict]
