Government earmarks $550-million to eradicate shanty towns

A national program to eradicate shanty towns in Rabat and nearby cities of Sale and Temara, to cost 5 billion Dirhams (around USD 555 million), was presented at a ceremony chaired, on Thursday, by King Mohammed VI of Morocco, who was accompanied by his brother, Prince Moulay Rachid.

The first part of the program will benefit 550,000 citizens in 106.500 shanty towns, with, as special objectives, stopping proliferation of unhealthy housing and anarchy in urban areas, developing attractive alternative to illegal housing by increasing supply and resettling 860,000 households living in improper housing.

The program will be carried out in 5 years, between 2004 and 2008.

The sovereign was also briefed on the "Nour Zaer" project which will resettle inhabitants of Douar El Koura shanty town in Rabat in 2,200 new houses. King Mohammed VI had launched construction works of the project in November 2002.