Parched policies

As Lebanon edged closer to war in the early 1970s, an ambitious project to provide irrigation and drinking water to South Lebanon was launched. At the time what came to be known as the ‘Litani River Project’ (also known to water experts as the Canal 800), was to be the most expansive undertaking to tap Lebanon’s largest — and one of its few — major water storage facilities, the Qaraoun artificial lake. The project aimed to bring potable water to more than 300,000 residents and irrigate 15,000 hectares of farm land in Marjaoun, Bint Jbeil and Yaarin. It never happened. When war broke out plans were abandoned, only to resurface again a decade ago, and just last month a decision was finally made: the Litani River Project is a go. But whenever Lebanon’s politicians finally agree not to disagree, most often the people end up paying the bill, even if