Concerns Over Illegal Industrial Operations in Kraxou
Residents of the Kraxou village, located in the Saada commune near Marrakech, are raising their voices in a collective demand for immediate intervention from regional authorities to address the ongoing illegal industrial activities taking place within a facility that was originally an olive oil press. According to consistent testimonies from various locals, this site has been repurposed into a space for collecting and purchasing 'faytour' (a type of waste material) and coral remnants, all under conditions that starkly disregard basic safety and environmental standards.
Reports gathered from the area indicate that trucks arrive almost daily, unloading vast quantities of these materials in the vicinity of the site and along nearby roads. This alarming scene has sparked significant discontent among residents, leading to serious questions regarding the legality of these operations and the nature of the permits under which they are conducted.
Environmental and Health Risks
Witnesses have reported that makeshift furnaces are being utilized to process these materials, with massive piles of 'faytour' accumulating in heaps, lacking any industrial equipment that adheres to established environmental or health regulations. Residents express that this situation has resulted in the emission of suffocating odors and toxic fumes, exacerbating the struggles of those living in the area and raising serious concerns about the potential impacts on public health.
The risks do not end there; available data suggest that some of these materials are collected in makeshift underground pits, raising significant fears of toxic liquid seepage into the soil, and consequently into the groundwater that the local population relies on for various agricultural and daily uses. Local stakeholders believe that the continuation of this activity, amid a lack of stringent oversight, could lead to a genuine environmental disaster, particularly with the increasing quantities being stored and the ongoing burning and processing operations conducted through traditional methods that fail to meet even the most basic safety standards.
In light of these alarming circumstances, the Kraxou residents are urgently calling on the Wali of the Marrakech-Safi region to initiate an immediate field investigation into this activity, to clarify legal responsibilities, and to involve the relevant authorities in environmental, health, and water management to assess the potential damages that could affect the region. They also urge legal action to be taken if violations are confirmed, advocating for the cessation of these activities that have become a substantial source of concern for the community and pose a direct threat to environmental balance and the quality of life for local residents.
As reported by jamaalfnapress.ma.
