Residents of Saqia Zait, a town in Tunisia's Sfax governorate, have voiced concerns over the deteriorating state of the town's roads and public lighting. The complaints focus on a specific street, Nahj Al-Warood, where residents say the road has been in a state of disrepair for over a year. The situation worsened after recent rainfall, which caused potholes to form and disrupted traffic flow. Some drivers have been forced to drive on the sidewalk to avoid the damaged roads.
Resident Adnan Al-Triki, who lives on Nahj Al-Warood, reported that he submitted a complaint to the municipality about a month ago, but no action has been taken. He also expressed concerns about the lack of public lighting, with around 20 out of 30-35 streetlights not functioning at night. This has raised safety concerns for residents who travel at night. Al-Triki's concerns reflect a broader issue affecting the town's infrastructure.
The municipality has provided explanations for the poor road conditions and public lighting. According to Tariq Wulaha, the municipality's technical officer for public lighting, the damage to the road was primarily caused by water leaks and maintenance work carried out by the National Water Exploitation and Distribution Company (SONDE). The company is required by law to restore the road to its original state once the work is completed.
Wulaha explained that the road repairs require the soil to be dry and suitable weather conditions to ensure the quality of the work. He also addressed the issue of public lighting, stating that the town has around 8,000 streetlights, which were operating at a rate of 98-100% before the summer season. However, due to national directives aimed at reducing energy consumption during the summer, some streetlights were turned off.
The reduction in operating streetlights was part of a broader effort to manage energy consumption during peak summer months. Wulaha stated that with the start of the new school year on September 15, the municipality adjusted the lighting schedule in side streets, turning on two lights and turning off one, while adopting a rotation system on main streets.
Wulaha emphasized that all lighting equipment is available and in good condition, but the return to full operation depends on new government directives. The municipality's efforts aim to balance energy consumption with the need for public safety and infrastructure maintenance.
The situation in Saqia Zait highlights the challenges faced by local authorities in maintaining infrastructure and services. Residents are eager for solutions to the problems affecting their daily lives, and the municipality's explanations provide some context for the current state of the town's roads and public lighting.
Key points
- The town's infrastructure has been affected by damage from water leaks and maintenance work
- National directives have led to reduced energy consumption through adjusted public lighting schedules
- The municipality is working to restore the town's infrastructure, pending suitable weather conditions and government directives
