صحافة بلادي صحيفة إلكترونية مغاربية متجددة على مدار الساعة تعنى بشؤون المغرب الجزائر ليبيا موريتانيا تونس
Fez:About 5,000 craftsmen and workers in the village of the traditional zellij industry in the Bengliq region, on the outskirts of Fez, are facing a worrying situation due to the deterioration of the road leading to the artisanal neighborhood, after the heavy rainfalls that the region witnessed during the month of February left collapses and cracks that made passage through a number of sections difficult.
Although months have passed since the road was damaged, its condition has not regained its normal condition, which raises concerns among professionals about the worsening of the damage with the return of rainfalls, especially since the road is an essential outlet for a village that includes thousands of artisans and workers in the manufacture of traditional Fasi tiles, in addition to cooperatives and companies that market their products inside and outside Morocco.
The situation is becoming more difficult for the trucks that the craft units rely on to transport clay and production-related materials, after they face difficulties in reaching the craft neighborhood, while cars are exposed to damage due to the damaged and rugged sections.
Masoud Abdul Wahid, head of the Al-Ikhaa Association for the Craftsman Neighborhood in Benglik, said that the problem of drifts is not new, but goes back years, noting that the road has undergone repeated repair operations without ending the problem once and for all. He explained that the nature of the clay soil in the region calls for a technical study that takes into account the causes of erosion, instead of just repairing the damage after every rainfall.
He added that the deterioration of the road prompted a number of craftsmen to purchase materials at their own expense to fill some of the damaged sections, so that they could continue their activity, while the alternative road via Sidi Ahrazem, according to him, does not provide an actual solution, due to what is known in turn as cracks and drifts that make the passage of trucks difficult.
Professionals warn that the continuation of the situation may directly affect the movement of production and transportation of goods, especially since Benjliq includes about 5,000 craftsmen and workers, making the road an essential artery for economic activity related to the Fasi clay industry.
The recorded damage also raises questions about the works carried out on this road axis, as available data indicate that the cost of repairs and previous works exceeded three billion centimes, while an amount of one billion and 445 million centimes was allocated to the latest project from the budget of the Fez-Meknes region, under the supervision of the Regional Project Implementation Agency.
The last project included a road section extending for about five kilometers linking the Jinan al-Ward neighborhood and the village of traditional craftsmen in Benglik. However, the road experienced collapses and washouts after the completion of the works, which revived the discussion about the effectiveness of technical treatment of some points that suffer repeated damage, and the need for technical installations appropriate to the nature of the region.
In the face of the continuing situation, cooperatives and professional associations representing traditional craftsmen sent a complaint to the governor of the Fez-Meknes region, Khaled Ait Taleb, demanding intervention to find a final solution to the road, which, according to professionals, remained vulnerable to erosion with every rainfall.
In June 2026, the Council of the Fez-Meknes region approved a special agreement to develop and expand the area of traditional industry activities in Benglij and create a road to access it, with a total financial envelope of approximately 58 million dirhams, to which the region contributes 38 million dirhams, in addition to the state secretariat in charge of traditional industry.
However, the work related to this project has not yet begun, while the craftsmen are waiting to address the current road condition before the rains return, in order to avoid further damage and ensure continued access to the area, which constitutes one of the most prominent sites for the production of traditional Fasi clay.
Source:My press
