Amid the royal directives emphasizing the importance of managing water resources, as highlighted in the 25th Throne Day speech, a water network project in the village of Oula Bouhko, under the Aknioun leadership in Tinghir province, is facing sharp criticism from the local population. Residents are demanding the dispatch of a central committee to investigate the situation and take appropriate legal actions.
Several representatives of the village expressed their concerns, calling for a fact-finding committee to be sent to investigate what they described as “serious irregularities” in the project’s execution, stating that it was carried out haphazardly and without oversight from any official body.
Mohamed El Zahidi, a local resident, revealed that “the project to connect the village of Oula Bouhko to the water supply is plagued with several issues, particularly regarding the quality of the work.” He explained that “the entire project needs to be redone because it does not meet quality standards,” adding that “the work was carried out haphazardly, with only a few centimeters of digging, which risks the network deteriorating due to heat or damage.”
The local residents highlighted this issue in a sensitive context, noting that King Mohammed VI, in his speech on the 25th anniversary of the Throne Day, emphasized the need to “mobilize all available resources, adopt innovative solutions, and undertake major projects to develop and manage water resources efficiently.” The King also stated, “This is a true national challenge that requires comprehensive and responsible mobilization to address the water issue in all its aspects.”
In his statement to Hespress, El Zahidi stressed that “this issue comes in light of these royal directives, highlighting the particular importance of the drinking water network project in Oula Bouhko.” He added, “Ensuring the quality of water projects in remote areas is not just a technical matter but a national commitment to citizens and a reflection of the royal vision for managing water resources.”
Several residents from the aforementioned area urged, in separate statements to Hespress, the dispatch of a central committee to assess the reality of the project and identify the entity that authorized the concerned company to commence work despite the absence of a budget or any partnership agreement. They emphasized that both the Aknioun municipality and the National Office for Drinking Water deny requesting the contractor to undertake the project. They called for an investigation to determine the responsible party for these operations and the technical body overseeing them.
Commenting on the matter, a source from the management of the Aknioun municipality stated that the municipality is not involved in the efforts to connect Oula Bouhko village to the water network and is awaiting the signing of an agreement to that effect. The source also called for an investigation to identify the individual or entity that granted the company approval to begin work.
The official added, in a statement to Hespress, that a committee comprising the leader of the Aknioun authority, the municipal council, and provincial services visited the project site upon receiving a complaint. They observed several irregularities and subsequently drafted an official report sent to the regional authority. “The matter now rests with the provincial governor, who has the authority to initiate an investigation or refer the case to the court to hold those responsible for the substandard work accountable, in line with royal directives aimed at preserving water resources,” he concluded.
A responsible source from the National Office for Drinking Water in Ouarzazate, who preferred to remain anonymous as he is not authorized to speak publicly, revealed that “the construction work was carried out haphazardly and illegally, as the project had not been approved, nor was any agreement signed to oversee and monitor it.” He added that “the National Office for Drinking Water does not bear responsibility for these activities,” and also called for “an impartial and transparent investigation to uncover the chaos and disorganization surrounding this project.”
In his statement to Hespress, the official denied any connection between the company tasked with the project and the National Office for Drinking Water, particularly regarding the “Oula Bouhko” project. He clarified that “the National Office also received a complaint on the matter and sent its committee, which identified several issues related to the quality of the work.”
