Queries Problem in Barja: Causes and Effects

Causes of the queries problem:


• Apparently no proper studies conducted before starting excavations
• Owners of the facility no responsible

• Ignore environmental issues
• Ignore rules and regulations
• Ignore people's demands

• Increased need for building material all over Lebanon
• Nature of land in the area

• Large empty lands 
• Geology suitable for these activities
• Land not suitable for agriculture

• People with a huge political powers own and operate the land in the area

• Have the power to escape punishments
• Pressing power to change laws and regulations
• Control over the population in that area

• Area designated as industrial zone
• People in the area used to be poor

• Didn't have the power to object
• New factory provided lots of jobs
• New facility provided support for the surrounding community

Effects of the queries:


• Air pollution

• Harming agricultural lands and crops in nearby and far lands
• Endangering people’s health in the Kazaa
• People spending large sums of money on health care and medications

• Surrounding land in several villages lost most of its value

• Due to aesthetic damage, and destruction of vegetative cover
• Due to noise

• Explosions and drilling noise that occur 24/7 are a great annoyance to the people
• Huge land affected by the quarries is damaged and unusable
• Large amounts of money required to rehabilitate the land
• Underground water and surface water in the vicinity of the query is damages beyond usability
• Land lost its potential

• As a possible touristic site
• Other nearby areas were chosen for building hotels
• Other areas were chosen for agricultural projects

Satellite image of the area (Click to enlarge)  

Bassir query (Click to enlarge)

Sibline query (Click to enlarge)