HIBAPRESS – Casablanca
In a scene that caused widespread shock in local circles, bulldozers returned the next morning, in succession, to demolish what was considered the largest tourism project in the Nouaceur province, consisting of a guesthouse and a classified hotel, which was constructed according to modern technical and architectural design, with a huge financial budget from a young investor who aspired to revive the tourism movement in the region.
The demolition decision was carried out, according to local sources, by direct instructions from the governor of Nouaceur province, Jalal Benhayoun, and in coordination with the Ministry of Interior's services, after the project was considered to be in violation of the urban planning laws in force. This decision sparked a wave of controversy on social media, where citizens expressed their sympathy with the project owner, considering that the removal decision came as a surprise and was disproportionate to the nature of the violation, while the Nouaceur province authorities remained silent. A number of followers confirmed that the building represented a distinctive architectural value, did not constitute any urban distortion, but rather added an aesthetic touch to the region, and could have been used as a tourist facility serving the province, which suffers from a shortage of infrastructure directed towards domestic and foreign tourism. The issue turned into a local public opinion issue after pages on social media circulated photos and videos documenting the demolition process, accompanied by angry comments demanding the opening of a comprehensive investigation to determine responsibilities, especially with regard to the construction phase that took place, according to eyewitnesses, in front of the local authorities without any intervention or early warning. Others also expressed their surprise at the absence of technical monitoring during the construction work, pointing out that the authorities could have taken alternative measures, such as imposing financial penalties or settling the legal status of the project, instead of demolishing an integrated facility that cost its owner years of work and exorbitant amounts. In contrast, sources from within the territorial administration believe that the demolition decision came in application of the law after clear urban violations were proven, stressing that the aim of these measures is to protect the urban area and ensure respect for architectural controls, while emphasizing that the authorities do not target investment, but rather seek to frame it within the organized legal procedures. Some experts in the field of urban planning believe that this incident brings back to the forefront the problem of weak communication between investors and the administration, calling for a review of the monitoring mechanisms and the preliminary framing of major investment projects, so that the investor does not find himself facing sudden decisions after exhausting his capital in a project that could have formed added value for the region. This decision came at a time when the royal directives still emphasize support for national investment and the protection of serious companies. In his speech, His Majesty King Mohammed VI on October 14, 2022, on the occasion of the opening of the first session of the legislative year, stressed that "the next stage requires comprehensive mobilization in order to make productive investment at the heart of economic dynamics, and to encourage and support companies to overcome bureaucratic obstacles." The King also emphasized in his Throne Day speech on July 29, 2023, the need to "facilitate procedures, accompany investors in the field, and enable them to have spaces and projects capable of creating job opportunities and enhancing confidence in the Moroccan administration." Despite these clear directives, the implementation of the demolition decision in Nouaceur came to form a completely contradictory picture to the royal spirit that calls for encouraging national investment and protecting productive projects. Instead of the project being an example of innovation in the domestic tourism sector, it turned into rubble of cement, in a scene that embodies a deep gap between the will of the supreme state and the behavior of some local executive bodies.
