Businesses say more government support is needed
Locals enthusiastic about project to build wider dam, which could transform area's
Tuesday, July 06, 2004
HERMEL, Lebanon: Rafting, swimming, trout farming, dining and having a good time are part of the private recreational and commercial facilities built along 7 kilometers of the Al-Assi River (the Orontes) passing near the Bekaa town of Hermel and through its environs, partially classified as a tourist zone.
The banks of the Al-Assi generate a lot of revenue for local inhabitants, an average of LL150,000,000 a week. But investors claim this revenue would be significantly more had the Tourism Ministry provided the needed assistance in the way of promotion or developing the appropriate infrastructure.
On the other hand, local authorities, non-governmental organizations and international environmentalists keep a tight rein on the area to efficiently prevent pollution and properly protect the environment.
Concerning these issues, riverside entrepreneurs are making an effort to harmonize their private interests with the need to preserve the ecosystem upon which their business ventures depend for growth.
"The Assi River is about the only river free of pollution in Lebanon," said Hassan Dandash, the co-owner and manager of Al-Ghaba cafe and restaurant on one of the river's banks.
"Private and governmental teams test the waters on a weekly basis. The river provides drinking water to the whole area - you certainly can drink directly from the river."
In partnership with local and international volunteers, Hermel municipality has been cleaning the river every year from all types of residue and obstacles, broken trees, plastics and rubble.
Rafting on the Al-Assi is one of the most exciting and unusual sporting activities in Lebanon.
"We come here to practice the sport under the patronage of the Lebanese Canoeing Federation," said Imad Itani of Beirut.
"The ride is 7 kilometers in length and takes two and a half hours, starting at the Hermel Bridge and ending below the Dirdara waterfalls.
"Despite some rough falls, rafting is quite safe and supervised by professionals who provide training, safety instructions and verify the use of proper equipment," added Itani.
Approximately 15 cafes, restaurants, and dozens of fishery ponds stretch along 7 kilometers on both banks of the river as it runs some 45 kilometers inside Lebanon before entering Syria. Visitors can bring their own food and cooking facilities to any of the resort cafes and restaurants that charge a limited fee for using the seating areas around the riverbanks.
"We also serve on the premises all types of fish (caught live from adjacent pools), meat grills and assorted Lebanese appetizers prepared by professional chefs," Dandash said.
Walid Sukarrieh, of the neighboring village of Fakha, is a regular visitor to the site.
"I invite my colleagues and friends from Beirut to come and enjoy their weekends on Al-Assi's riverbanks," he said.
"My guests express admiration of the place and its hygiene and cleanliness; Most of them are surprised by what they see here," he added.
The newly established Syrian-supported municipal council in Shawagheer, a small village along the riverbanks, has officially replaced the Hizbullah-supported Hermel council in all maintenance and cleaning work.
"The new council is limited in its resources compared to Hermel Municipality," said Dandash. "This is a worrying issue for us. All the municipal funds lavished by the previous council were still short of providing the cost of collecting the garbage and maintaining the recreational sites. Unlike the Hermel council, the Shawagheer council will not be capable of raising the extra funds needed to compensate for the deficit."
These concerns are presently the subject of debate between the councils of Hermel and Shawagheer, which are attempting to come up with a formula for coordination and cooperation.
It is against the law to construct fixed concrete edifices around the riverbanks.
"Although we own the land, we are not permitted to construct houses or any concrete buildings," Dandash said, adding: "I and my brothers who own the land avoided breaking the law and constructed a small facility with an area of 50 square meters only to store valuables and use it as a kitchen and a small bathroom."
Dandash is ready to follow any instructions ordering him to alter his facilities or demolish the existing structures in accordance with legal requirements.
"However, the central or local authorities have yet to issue such laws; We will abide by them no matter how regulatory they might be," he said.
The tourist zoning of the area is not evident anywhere near the riverbanks.
"Unlike other tourist areas, Al-Assi resorts lack all kinds of government support or attention," Dandash said."We need roads, telephone services, electricity and, above all, official promotion locally and abroad."
"All the roads and electricity networks are the result of collective and individual initiatives," said Hani Mahfouz, one of the owners of a small lodging facility, adding: "The local authorities have accomplished many projects that help our resort and encourage internal tourism through promotional campaigns through Lebanese schools and through social and sporting clubs."
Despite their awareness of the restrictions, Mahfouz and his brothers constructed their lodging facility at the end of the 7 kilometer resort called the "Dirdara falls," named after a 200-year-old oak tree growing in the middle of the waterfall.
"I am trying to reach a settlement with the authorities and get a proper license for my hotel and restaurant," said Mahfouz. "However, the authorities are not responding to our request (and are imposing) more regulatory (and) legal obstacles."
"Ten years ago," he continued, "we cut down hundreds of apricot and other fruit trees after having to suffer repeated losses because of damaging governmental agrarian policies. We changed our business orientation, started to breed fish and constructed these recreational facilities."
Mahfouz estimates such activities earn local inhabitants an some LL150,000,000 a week.
"Fisheries produce 500 tons of trout fish every year, which are sold wholesale to food stores and restaurants and retail for our local inhabitants and restaurant customers," he said.
He also claims the fisheries have the capacity to double their production if the government helped in marketing.
"Former Defense Minister Ghazi Zaeiter promised he would contract with us to provide the Lebanese Army with their fish needs - he failed, without giving an adequate explanation," Mahfouz said.
"Currently, the Defense Ministry imports equivalent French fish at a price twice what is offered locally," he added.
Time does not appear to be on the side of Al-Assi's tourist businesses as new projects might end all dreams and aspirations of local investors.
"Building the dam on the Al-Assi River has no advantages whatsoever for the area," Mahfouz said. "The proposed location for the dam and the reasons behind building it would hurt the area instead of developing the agrarian sector as the officials claim."
Mahfouz explained that the projected dam, referred to as the "small dam" as compared to another proposal called the "wider dam," would be a barrier to slow the water flow and divert the current through man-made tunnels to generate the electric power needed to operate the water pumps supposed to irrigate agrarian fields.
"The cost of irrigating 1,000 square meters of land will rise from the current price of $30 per hour to $55 per hour," Mahfouz said. "We closed our farms because of high production costs, bad policies and lack of marketing. Now the dam would not help solve the problem and will demolish all our tourist resorts and facilities."
Resort owners and beneficiaries do not object to the building of a dam, according to Dandash. "However, the wider dam, supported by Baalbek MP Assem Qansow, would bring prosperity to the whole Hermel area and provide it with low-cost electricity," he said.
Dandash added his own optimistic perspective: "The wider dam would trigger the evaporation of 6,000 cubic meters every year, leading to environmental changes that would turn the surrounding hills and fields into forests and green landscapes."
Mahfouz, speculating on the future the wider dam might bring to the area, said: "For this kind of prospect we are ready to sacrifice our private tourist resorts. ... At least we would give the younger generation a bright and breezy future to enjoy for years to come."
By Adnan El-Ghoul Daily Star staff
© The Daily Star 2004
