LEBANON - The Lebanese Ministry of Energy and Water has issued a decision to remove the illegal encroachments along the Hasbani River in the Ras al-Nabaa area.
Environmental groups have described it as a new win for environmental protection efforts. The directive calls for the “removal of encroachments on public river property” and the “restoration of the dam to its original height,” including the demolition of newly added sections that were constructed without authorization.
According to official findings, an investor carried out unauthorized works a few months ago by pouring concrete directly into the riverbed and modifying existing water barriers.
The project proceeded without an environmental impact assessment (EIA) and without approval from the Ministry of Energy and Water, in violation of Lebanese environmental and construction regulations.
Authorities said the alterations changed the natural course of the river and led to the addition of a small dam above the original structure, causing damage to the site’s ecological balance and natural landscape.
The intervention prompted the environmental public prosecutor to issue an order halting the works. However, the structures were not removed at the time, and the encroachment remained in place.
Environmental organization Terre Liban filed a formal complaint regarding the case in January. The group said it only officially received notification of the ministry’s decision.
The decision itself is dated March 4, 2026, and is formally addressed to the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities, which is responsible for enforcement.
Activists warn that continued delays risk further environmental degradation of the Hasbani River, one of Lebanon’s key freshwater ecosystems.
