Rural Development Initiatives in Casablanca-Settat
The Casablanca-Settat region continues to prioritize rural development, as evidenced by the substantial investments allocated by the regional council. During a regular session held on Monday in July, regional officials reviewed the progress of key projects initiated since the beginning of their mandate. Central to the report presented by the council's president, Abdellatif Maâzouz, were the water access projects, particularly the operational desalination stations that have ensured reliable water supply to numerous rural communities.
According to the regional official's disclosures, the projects aimed at rural development amount to a total investment of 8 billion dirhams, with a progress rate of 30%. This funding includes 250 million dirhams allocated specifically for several rural areas that span across various prefectures and provinces within the region. Water remains the primary focus of this investment initiative. Abdellatif Maâzouz noted that 'monobloc' type desalination stations have been established at a total cost of 262 million dirhams. 'These stations are currently operational and have proven their effectiveness since last summer. Without these installations, many areas would have struggled to secure adequate water supply,' he stated, highlighting that these facilities have already mobilized nearly 2.5 million cubic meters of water for rural residents.
Progress and Future Investments
Furthermore, the president revealed that the desalination stations have achieved an impressive operational success rate of 89%, reflecting their capacity to mobilize water resources effectively. Beyond desalination, the programs aimed at ensuring access to potable water continue to expand. Recent statistics indicate that nearly 8,000 rural households are now benefiting from these initiatives, while 791 water fountains are currently available for use by populations in rural areas across the region.
Electrification is also a top priority within the council's agenda. The ongoing program plans to connect 127 douars and 676 households, with the construction progress currently at 51%. The investment allocated for this endeavor is 53 million dirhams. Additionally, rural road infrastructure forms another critical component of the regional program. Projects initiated since 2023 represent an investment of 133 million dirhams, complemented by new programs valued at 106 million dirhams. This is further supported by the Ministry of Equipment's plans for classified roads, which boasts a budget of 665 million dirhams.
In total, the regional council has approved 509 agreements so far, representing a financial volume of 90.6 billion dirhams, with the region contributing 21.6 billion dirhams towards these agreements. Among these, 232 contracts have received the necessary approvals, amounting to a total of 56.4 billion dirhams, which constitutes 62% of the financial commitments voted on. The regional contribution to these validated agreements stands at 15 billion dirhams, accounting for 70% of the initially approved share by the council.
The report presented during this session also highlighted the progress of various projects across different sectors of regional competence. Economic, employment, and entrepreneurship-related projects show a progression rate of 39%, with an investment of 6 billion dirhams. Transportation and mobility initiatives have reached 45%, backed by 28.5 billion dirhams. Meanwhile, rural development projects exhibit a 30% execution rate, valued at 4.3 billion dirhams, while water and environmental projects have progressed to 47%, representing an investment of 10 billion dirhams. Cultural programs have advanced to 35% (720 million dirhams), education, health, and sports projects stand at 37% (5 billion dirhams), urban planning initiatives are at 37% (1.5 billion dirhams), and public services have reached a 50% completion rate, totaling 443 million dirhams.
In conclusion, Abdellatif Maâzouz emphasized that several structural projects are in place that extend beyond the current mandate of the regional council. The total value of these projects reaches 24 billion dirhams, of which nearly 45% is expected to generate financial impact starting from the 2028 and 2029 fiscal years, indicating a long-term investment strategy for the region's development.
As reported by fr.hespress.com.
