Extraordinary session of Kasserine Governorate Regional Council

As part of following up the economic and social development programmes in the country's various regions, President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali chaired, on Friday, an extraordinary session of the Kasserine Governorate Regional Development Council devoted to the development process evolution in the region and means that would further improve the local inhabitants' living conditions.

CARTHAGE - As part of following up the economic and social development programmes in the country's various regions, President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali chaired, on Friday, an extraordinary session of the Kasserine Governorate Regional Development Council devoted to the development process evolution in the region and means that would further improve the local inhabitants' living conditions.

At the extraordinary session's opening, the President of the Republic delivered an address in which he recalled that investments benefiting the Governorate have been multiplied by three between the 7th and 10th Development Plans, and focused mainly on energising the agricultural sector, mobilising water resources, improving infrastructure in the various other sectors and reinforcing the attributes of a decent life.

During the extraordinary session, and with a view to consolidating these results, the Head of State announced the following measures:

//Further increase irrigated zones, by providing 1,400 additional hectares for the development of new irrigated zones in all the delegations of the Governorate, in addition to the projects included in the 11th Plan, which will bring the total irrigated area up from 24,000 to 27,000 hectares.

//Equip and electrify 11 deep wells and construct 18 new wells and 6 exploratory drillings, with total costs amounting to 20 million dinars.

//Implement a specific programme involving the promotion of fodder and pastoral areas over 3,300 hectares, develop fodder-stocking spaces, maintain water stations, and protect cattle-breeders.

//Prepare a programme to fight erosion in the overflows of Oued Hatab and High Mellegue.

//Implement four integrated development projects and consolidate the integrated agricultural development project.

//Launch the study of the second phase of the project for improving the management of natural resources, which involves the implementation of water and soil conservation and forest development works, promoting vegetal production and improving the inhabitants' living conditions.

//Enlarge the industrial zone in Kasserine over 10 hectares, connect the region's industrial zones through optical fibres extending over 18 kilometres and create a real-estate potential to be developed according to the need and the demand.

//Connect a number of cities to the natural gas network.

//Connect the industrial zone in Kasserine to the national sanitation network, establish three industrial spaces covering 6,000 square metres and work out an action programme to develop additional spaces in case of need.

//Develop the national park of Djebel Chaâmbi and the archeological city of Hidra.

//Enlarge the in-take capacity of the Kasserine sports complex with 4500 additional seats.

//Renew the Thala hospital and establish a dialysis unit and a basic healthcare centre in Ezzouhour delegation.

//Implement a set of urgent additional projects for 880 families, with particular focus on the provision of drinking water and electricity to over 250 families.

//Develop a park for the families living in Oued Darb.

//Implement a programme to reduce the pollution caused by the Kasserine Cellulose Factory.

//Construct a controlled waste dump, along with a centre for waste transformation.

The Governor and the Regional Council members took then the floor, expressing satisfaction at the constant care lavished by the President of the Republic on the Kasserine Governorate and voicing the most urgent concerns to further improve the local inhabitants' living conditions.

In this regard, President Ben Ali decided the following additional measures:

- Raise the number of working days of public works for the current year, as part of the Kasserine Governorate programme.

- Appropriate an additional quota for the benefit of 400 recipients, as part of the National Employment Fund.

- Raise by some 1,500 the number of allowances allocated to in-need families and by 100 the number of allowances to disabled people.

- Increase by 500 the number of reduced-charge healthcare cards.

- Fit out and asphalt the track linking the N°13 national road and the Machrek Echams-based rural young girls' training centre.

- Asphalt two tracks leading to the Sidi Faleh and Sidi Bouchadada's mausoleums.

- Restore the Al Abadila Mosque in Sbeitla and Sidi Saleh Fej Bouhsine Mosque.

- Allocate a presidential allowance to the Kasserine Sport Association

- Grant two buses to the region's youths.

- Achieve fitting-out project of the Ennour-west district.

On the other hand, President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali decided to provide the region with a presidential allowance for improving housing in the Governorate's various delegations.

The Head of State underlined, at the session's end, the great importance he attaches to following up the concerns of this governorate's citizens, notably youths and the underprivileged families, giving instructions in this regard to the Governorate officials and the Regional Council members.

The latter voiced high consideration to the Head of State for the care he lavishes on the Kasserine Governorate, reasserting the attachment of the region's citizens to the policy of President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali, the guarantor of Tunisia's better future.

TAP