Beirut MPs Nabil Badr, Adnan Trabolsi and Imad Al-Hout, along with lawyer Mahmoud Al-Natour, representing MP Waddah Al-Sadek, who was absent due to travel, attended a dinner hosted at the residence of MP Fouad Makhzoumi.
They discussed the concerns and challenges facing the capital, particularly issues related to electricity, water, and waste management. They agreed to cooperate to improve conditions in Beirut across a range of vital issues affecting the capital and its residents.
The MPs also examined the possibility of establishing a unified office to serve the people of Beirut, with the aim of identifying the capital’s priorities in electricity, water, and other essential services. They agreed to prepare urgent draft laws to address the crises facing the capital and submit them jointly to Parliament.
Regarding electricity, given that Law No. 462/2002, issued on September 5, 2002, allows the Electricity Regulatory Authority to grant licenses to private companies for electricity generation; and given that this authority has not yet been established, while the aforementioned law stipulates that, during the transitional period and until the authority is formed, the Council of Ministers may issue such licenses; and given that the current government is acting in a caretaker capacity, the MPs present considered that a restrictive interpretation of the concept of caretaker government might prevent it from issuing such licenses. They also agreed to submit an urgent draft law to Parliament requesting authorization to establish a private company to generate and distribute electricity in the capital.
Regarding water, the MPs noted that in some areas of the capital, the existing water network suffers from chronic breakdowns, not because of water shortages, but because it consists of asbestos and cast-iron pipes that are several decades old. The state is currently incurring substantial costs to maintain these pipes. The MPs agreed that an urgent draft law should be submitted on behalf of Beirut’s MPs to bring the water crisis in Beirut to a definitive end.
Regarding the chronic waste crisis, those present decided to send letters to the relevant embassies, requesting that they allocate the necessary funds to establish landfills or rehabilitate existing ones in accordance with international standards. They also agreed to submit an urgent draft law on behalf of Beirut’s MPs to clean up the Port of Beirut.
The MPs also discussed the file concerning Solidere. They questioned whether the company was fulfilling its obligations, given the absence of essential services in the downtown area, including electricity. They agreed that the situation had become unjustifiable and unacceptable and that addressing it would be one of their priorities, in coordination with all relevant parties.
Finally, the five MPs decided to meet regularly to discuss all issues of vital importance to the people of Beirut.