Essaouira Floods Expose Infrastructure Flaws, Residents Demand Audit

Several boulevards and alleys of the city were flooded after the torrential rains that hit the province on Tuesday, reports Al Akhbar. Images of these scenes of chaos have been widely circulated on social media, provoking the outrage of residents and tourists. Some residents hold the municipal council and local authorities responsible for this situation, calling for an audit of the projects and an evaluation of the quality of the work carried out in two phases.

"The first phase (2010-2014) aimed to upgrade the city, with a budget of 432 million dirhams, as well as the development of the green belt (15 million dirhams) and the protection of the city against floods (12 million dirhams)," while the second phase (2015-2018) required an investment of 500 million dirhams, the daily specifies.

"About 152 million dirhams were devoted to the upgrading of Mohammed V Boulevard, the Corniche and the gardens adjoining the ramparts, 185 million to the rehabilitation of the old medina, and 163 million to the strengthening of basic infrastructure, as well as the enhancement of the Mellah district, some places of worship and dilapidated housing," the publication details.