Saddi inaugurates new hiking trail at Shabrouh dam site

BEIRUT — Energy and Water Minister Joe Saddi on Sunday inaugurated a new hiking trail developed by the municipality of Faraya and the Union of Municipalities of Kesrouan-Ftouh at Shabrouh, on the site of the dam located in the heights of Kesrouan.

In a speech delivered during the inauguration, the minister stated: "The event organized today around Shabrouh Lake is environmental, athletic and respects laws and standards. It embodies joy and a love of life and reflects the image of Lebanon that we are working towards, not a Lebanon of death, destruction and endless wars that some are trying to impose on us." He recalled that he had asked the municipality to work on such a project last September.

This inauguration also marks the official reopening of the dam to the public, nearly a year after it was closed by Saddi, who had suspended water-skiing, jet-skiing and other activities that had been taking place there illegally and anarchically at the initiative of private operators.

The minister's decision, who is allied with the Lebanese Forces within the Salam government, fueled a controversy that was partly stoked by members of his rival party, the Free Patriotic Movement.

The hiking trail starts at the level of the dam and continues on the heights overlooking the lake. However, swimming in the lake remains forbidden for safety reasons. In the event of an accident or drowning, responsibility would fall on the Ministry of Energy and Water.

As long as a specific system has not been put in place to oversee swimmers or water activities at the lake, the ministry prefers to maintain this prohibition, according to the minister we contacted.