فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
The Taza Municipality has issued a clarification statement in response to public debate sparked by a written parliamentary question addressed to the Ministry of Equipment and Water regarding the situation of Asdour Douar, particularly the absence of a bridge over Oued Al-Arbaa, as well as allegations related to a lack of “spatial equity” within Taza’s urban area.
According to the explanations provided, the project to build an engineering structure over Oued Al-Arbaa is following a phased technical and administrative process. A call for tenders was launched in early December 2025 to carry out the technical study for a bridge in Asdour 1, resulting in the contract being awarded to a design office at a cost of 330,000 dirhams, which is currently pending approval. As for Asdour 2, the technical study contract has been announced, with bid openings scheduled for January 2026.
The municipality further explained that a previous attempt to build a bridge in Asdour 1, under a contract concluded in 2023, did not receive approval from the Sebou Basin Agency, due to technical considerations related to non-compliance with reference water levels and safety standards applicable to such structures. This necessitated the preparation of a new study in line with the technical requirements recommended by the basin agency.
Pending completion of the procedures, the municipality indicated that field interventions have already been carried out in coordination with the Sebou Basin Agency, the Taza Provincial Council, and provincial authorities. These actions included cleaning riverbanks and improving rainwater flow, particularly around the Asdour 1 bridge area, to prevent potential risks during periods of heavy rainfall.
Regarding claims of “marginalization” affecting certain urban neighborhoods, the municipality stated that such allegations do not, in its view, reflect on-the-ground realities nor the scale of public investment directed toward under-equipped neighborhoods. In this regard, it recalled the implementation of the Taza Municipality Upgrading Program under the City Policy (2017–2023), which included road paving, alley surfacing, and the construction of rainwater drainage networks in Asdour 1, Asdour 2, and Mimouna Neighborhood, with a total budget of approximately 15 million dirhams, noting that remaining works are scheduled to be completed using the remaining allocations.
The statement also highlighted that the Urban Development and Upgrading Program for Under-Equipped Neighborhoods (2023–2026) has been allocated a budget of nearly 20 million dirhams, covering the neighborhoods of Al-Nahda Neighborhood, Al-Taqaddom Neighborhood, Oureida Neighborhood, and Rbayez Neighborhood. Works have already begun in Al-Nahda and are set to start in Al-Taqaddom upon completion of the sanitation network.
In the same context, the municipality referred to self-financed projects, including the upgrading of Al-Amal Neighborhood at a cost of approximately 13 million dirhams, and Oureida Neighborhood with a budget of around 2.5 million dirhams, as part of an approach aimed at reducing spatial disparities and improving living conditions in neighborhoods surrounding the city.
The municipality concluded its statement by affirming that local governance is based on mobilizing resources and advocating with government departments and public institutions to implement structuring projects. It also expressed thanks to Rachid Benchikhi, Governor of Taza Province, for his efforts in implementing flood prevention programs, as well as to parliamentarians who continue to follow up on provincial issues within what it described as calm and institutional advocacy.
Source: Fes News Media
