November 30, 2011 01:45 AM
The Daily Star

BEIRUT: A prominent environmentalist is warning against road construction works near the Faqra natural stone bridge in Kesrouan.

Road construction works, using dynamite to explode portions of the ground, could damage the nearby Roman ruins, as the ground is very rocky and fragile, Mazen Abboud said.

“Vibrations from the dynamite explosions could travel to the nearby ruins, and damage them,” he said. Further studies must be carried out, and road works put on hold, so that accurate information can be gathered on the possible consequences of the project, Abboud added.

Abboud, a freelance consultant and activist, also wants the government or the Municipality of Kfar Zebian to purchase the entire tract of land containing both the natural stone bridge, which is hundreds of years old, and the nearby Roman ruins.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Daily Star on November 30, 2011, on page 4.

Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2011/Nov-30/155595-environmentalist-warns-against-construction-works.ashx#ixzz1fcFAgeKx
(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)