More projects implemented in southern city

 

By Basem al-Rikabi

 

Azzaman, 2004-09-23

 

There has been a flurry of construction in the southern city of Nasiriya in the past few months, according to municipal officials.

 

The officials say their city has been relatively quiet in comparison to other restive areas in the country which have recently seen an upsurge in violence.

 

Head of Nasiriya Municipalities Muhsen Haddab said projects worth 3.7 billion dinars are currently under construction and many more will be started soon.

 

The interim government has allocated more than 11.8 billion dinars to upgrade municipal services in the city, one of the most impoverished in the country.

 

Haddab said the projects have helped alleviate rampant unemployment rates in Nasiriya.

 

“We have recently created more than 6,000 new job opportunities and many more are in the pipeline,” he said.

 

The city, 250 kilometers south of Baghdad, still lacks an efficient sewage system for its nearly 600,000 inhabitants.

 

Haddab said a large portion of municipal allocations has been spent on sewage treatment, extension of new pipeline network to make pure water available to as many people as possible and the building of clinics.

 

The city streets are being repaved and parks, left unattended, have begun blossoming.

 

Nasiriya is the base of Italian troops working with US-led multinational forces to stabilize and reconstruct the country.

 

The Italian government is also involved in multi-million dollar projects in the city.

 

Early this month Rome earmarked $15 million to revive part of the Nasiriya marshes which once covered an area of 3,500 square kilometers.