World Bank Funds $5.4 Million for Green Spaces in Casablanca’s Urban Development Plan

The 24 million dirhams will be used for the development of green spaces, the rehabilitation or creation of fountains as well as parks in several areas of the city, Assabah reports, specifying that a total of twelve projects are concerned by the 2016-2020 development plan for a budget of 1.29 billion dirhams and should normally be executed between 2018 and 2020. These include the redevelopment of neighborhood parks, especially green spaces near mosques, for a budget of 139 million dirhams, parks and main entrances to the city for 30 billion dirhams and the "One Tree per Household" initiative for 150 million dirhams.

However, so far, the projects remain largely unfinished, due to the lack of revenue and especially the crisis affecting the city, the newspaper explains. Thus, at the end of their term, the officials are running in all directions to save face. Projects falling within the framework of the agreements signed between the town hall and the local development company (SDL) "Casablanca Environment" have been launched. This World Bank loan has just given the green light for tenders.