Saturday, April 21, 2007
$160 million for Basra province reconstruction
Reconstruction
(Azzaman) - The government has allocated $160 million (approx. 246 billion dinars) for the reconstruction of the Province of Basra, said the head of the provincial council. Mohammed Saadoun said the council has already approved the projects that are to be implemented through the money. The province of which the city of Basra is the capital is among the most backward in Iraq, suffering from the lack of basic services like clean water, power and health.
Saadoun said the money will be spent on a variety of public service projects and will cover the whole of the province and not only the provincial center. But the money dedicated for Basra city municipality will be released immediately, he said, urging the inhabitants to cooperate to bring ‘Basra’s reconstruction to success.’
Saadoun said the money was not enough and urged the central government to funnel more resources to the province. He said the council is demanding ‘a special budget’ for Basra to be deducted directly from the country’s oil revenues. Almost all of Iraq’s current oil exports originate in the province.
Saadoun said the money will be spent on a variety of public service projects and will cover the whole of the province and not only the provincial center. But the money dedicated for Basra city municipality will be released immediately, he said, urging the inhabitants to cooperate to bring ‘Basra’s reconstruction to success.’
Saadoun said the money was not enough and urged the central government to funnel more resources to the province. He said the council is demanding ‘a special budget’ for Basra to be deducted directly from the country’s oil revenues. Almost all of Iraq’s current oil exports originate in the province.
Labels: Basra, Mohammed Saadoun, reconstruction
