جريدة صيدونيانيوز.نت / Sidon waste plant problems to be resolved in a month: Khatib

جريدة صيدونيانيوز.نت / اخبار مدينة صيدا / Sidon waste plant problems to be resolved in a month: Khatib

Mohammed Zaatari| The Daily Star

SIDON, Lebanon: Caretaker Environment Minister Tarek Khatib Monday said the majority of environmental problems at the Sidon waste treatment plant will be resolved within a month. Khatib made the comments at a news conference held in Sidon to discuss his ministry’s report on the plant’s performance.

“Within a month, we will have treated the reasons for all the problems and we will return to reveal [the results] in a transparent manner,” he said at the news conference at Sidon Mayor Mohammad Saudi’s office.

Sidon’s controversial waste treatment plant recently reopened after a brief shutdown due to protests, prompting the ministry to carry out an assessment report.

During the news conference, which lasted over an hour, Khatib went over the details of the report in the presence of South Lebanon Gov. Mansour Daou. Also in attendance were representatives from the Internal Security Forces and IBC Corp., which is operating the plant.

The report showed there had been a problem with the plant, Khatib said. He added that the issue was “not difficult” to resolve, noting that its causes had been identified and would be dealt with by the plant’s owner within a month’s time.

“[The ministry made] several observations, [some of] which are part of the problems people complained about. They have every right – none of the officials can say there isn’t a problem,” Khatib said.

Within the monthlong timeframe, Khatib said foul smells would be “nearly” eliminated and a “large portion of environmental problems” at the plant would be resolved. A representative from the ministry will also be on-site daily to track the plant’s progress, he said.

Once the deadline passes, Khatib will revisit the site to follow up on the matter and see if the issue has been resolved. As for the report, the caretaker minister said a copy would be handed out within the next few days to Daou, Saudi, south Lebanon MPs, factory operators and other representatives.

“We as a ministry are present to discuss with [involved parties] and technical teams assigned by them, in addition to the ministry’s team, all the environmental matters that will be included in the report,” Khatib added. While he vaguely pointed out what the “problems” were, he told reporters the foul smell was not only caused by the waste treatment center.

“I am not defending the plant, [but] the area is infested. The lake where trash is dumped ... the remains of meat, sewage ... tannins and the plant are all sources of the odors that people are upset about,” Khatib said. “Before the month is over, people will surely begin to notice the difference.”

Sidon’s household solid waste treatment center had announced a temporary halt in operations on Friday June 29 after demonstrators broke into the plant to protest the smell and environmental impact of the site and its nearby dumps.

The break-in sparked clashes between protesters and the plant’s workers. After trash collection stopped that evening, garbage accumulated over the weekend in the streets of Sidon, Jezzine and other areas, prompting further protests from residents.

The plant reopened the following Monday, after assurances were made that the plant and its employees would be protected.