Beirut: Beirut: In a first for the country, a Lebanese MP belonging to the Free Patriotic Movement is threatening to cut off water to the capital if a licence to begin work on the controversial Janna Dam, located in Kesrouan between the cities of Ftouh and Jbeil, is not granted by the end of the month. The Ministry of Environment has come out against the project, but Simon Abi Ramia has singled out the head of the Future Movement, Fouad Siniora. Abi Ramia accused him of being “malignant in dealing with projects in Christian areas”.
The FPM parliamentarian says his people would block the flow of water from the Nahr Ebrahim river which supplies the capital by switching off any one of the three valves which feed into the main pipe. Of course, tempering with public utilities is illegal, but apparently not for Abi Ramia.
The proposed dam would be the second largest in Lebanon after the dam in Qaraoun on the Litani River in Bekaa valley. It will be 165 metres high and have a 95 million cubic metre capacity.
The dam will provide 19 million cubic metres of water to the Jbeil area and 20 million cubic metres to Beirut.
Ecology experts and residents warn that building the dam would destroy the ecosystem in the .... area. According to geologist Samir Zaatiti, the project could also threaten the water source that feeds the Jeita Grotta, a submerged cave that is both a source of water and a tourist destination.
