Brarha municipality clarifies land expropriation for dam project

The municipality of Brarha has provided clarifications concerning the expropriation of land for the Sidi Abbu dam project, following a report by Hespress newspaper titled 'Families in Brarha Call for an End to Harm.' The municipality emphasized that the evacuation of homes included in the expropriation process primarily involved individuals whose financial claims were settled, and who had signed agreements for the voluntary relinquishment and evacuation of their properties.

In a statement signed by its president, the municipality highlighted that land located in the 'Rouf' area of Brarha lacks official ownership documents, remaining undivided among heirs. This situation complicated the timely acquisition of building permits, both to protect third-party rights and due to the initial requirement for a topographical survey by a surveyor.

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The process of evacuating homes included in the expropriation process for the preparation of the Sidi Abbu dam in the Brarha commune primarily concerned individuals whose financial situation was settled, and who signed the relinquishment and evacuation minutes of their homes, and therefore they were demolished.

The municipality further explained that 43 applications for building permits were submitted under technical assistance, simplifying administrative procedures. Of these, 37 applications were processed, studied, and approved through the unified permit portal. While 12 beneficiaries are in the final stages of construction, the remaining 25 have not yet begun building, having relinquished their permits without withdrawal. The other six applications are still being processed because the owners had disputes with heirs regarding construction on shared properties, only submitting their requests after resolving these conflicts.

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The lands located in the 'Rouf' area of the Brarha commune do not have official documents proving their ownership, as they remain undivided among the heirs (ancestral lands), which made it difficult to obtain building permits in a record time to protect the rights of others.

Regarding families residing in tents or makeshift shelters, the Brarha municipality stated this situation applies to only one case. The reason cited is a dispute with heirs preventing the individual from applying for a permit on shared land. Their application was only submitted after resolving the dispute in April 2026, with the file forwarded to the Urban Agency in mid-May 2026. Concerning electricity grid connection, the municipality has contacted the relevant authorities. A study by the regional multi-specialty company (SRM) has been completed to extend the electrical network, with technical procedures underway to assign a contractor for the planned works.

Concerning the educational institution, mosque, water reservoir, water connection network, and public fountains, the Brarha municipality confirmed they remain intact and were not demolished. A mixed committee selected and inspected the land designated for rebuilding these facilities. All necessary studies and permits have been approved, and the tender was published on the public procurement portal, with bid opening scheduled for August 18, 2026.

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The educational institution, the mosque, the water reservoir, the water connection network, and the public fountains still exist as they are and have not been demolished.