Rabat – King Mohammed VI’s verdict to sack ministers and senior officials over the dysfunctions in the Al Hoceima development project has given those still in office a boost to roll up their sleeves and amend the observed defects. Al Hoceima province governor Farid Chourak said on Wednesday that the project is making progress “within the set deadline.”
With an overall budget of MAD 462.60 million, the governor stated during a progress meeting that out of the 35 projects planned in the health sector, 21 are complete, 13 are underway, and one is yet to be implemented.
The 16 projects and the MAD 41.29 million designated for social development have seen the implementation of one project, 13 in progress, and two in the preparatory phase.
For an amount of MAD 88.58 million, the region’s sports infrastructure is being upgraded with 21 finalized projects and 21 others still under way, while the remaining seven have not yet kicked off.
As for agriculture, the official noted that the creation of the 19 projects has ended, while the remaining 35 are still under way for a budget of MAD 96.18 million.
The official said that territorial projects are allocated MAD 1.15 billion, noting that one project has been completed, one has not started yet, and 40 others are in progress.
Three cultural project are underway at MAD 38.03 million, as well as another three for protection against flooding, while the city is waiting for 11 others to be completed.
In terms of water supply, purification, and electrification, 38 projects have been carried out, 39 are under way, and 16 others have not started yet, requiring a budget of MAD 1.3 billion.
As for education, for a budget of MAD 1.29 billion, the implementation of 91 projects has been accomplished while 87 are underway and 20 others are awaiting their kick-off, he said.
Only one project has seen the light of day in the development of vocational training, one project is being implemented while another one did not start yet.
At the religious level, two projects are underway, while three others have not yet started.
For the tourism sector, the governor said that one project was completed, while four others have not yet started.
The official pointed out that the existence of some obstacles during the execution of these projects relating to real estates, lack of human resources, and delay in transaction approval.
In a statement to the press after the meeting, Agriculture Minister Aziz Akhannouch said that the meeting is very important for assessing the progress of the “Al Hoceima Manarat Al Moutawassit” program, adding that the majority of projects are making headway within the set deadline.
The president of the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region, Ilyas El Omari, said that all projects will be operational before the set deadline, adding that a similar meeting is planned in three months to examine pending matters and address difficulties.
Speaking at held under the chairmanship of Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit, Chourak said that this large-scale project seeks mainly to reinforce the region’s infrastructure, promote social environment and risk management, enhance territorial upgrading, and develop the cultural sector.
