April 26, 2015 | 9:29 p.m. R. C. Tiddis around the ancient site, the most important archaeological remains of the Roman period in the Constantine area, some workers are busy preparing the laying of the new fence, yet the work started in spring 2014. “This rehabilitation project is not clearly defined, it took more than a year late,” regrets the citizens of the village of Mechta Essefsaf and visitors of Castellum who fear that the planned developments would “end up in the dustbin” , reports the Press Service Agency Algeria. Announced and launched in 2014 by the institutions responsible for the management and preservation of cultural heritage, number of rehabilitation works of ancient archaeological sites and restoration of the old city of Constantine lagging far behind, which led to the postponement of other programs. In this fortified city built on numides remains, the Office for Administration and operation of Cultural Property (OGEBC), which manages the site, has plans to expand the site boundaries, moving outside the perimeter the current car park Visitors and install reception facilities. Included in the program of preparations for the event Constantine capital of Arab Culture 2015, this project also involves the construction of a small museum and a recreational area located at the top of the mountain. Although the director of the National Archaeological Research Centre (CNRA) stated in 2014 that a “preliminary” study and a “survey” of the land “should be made before any development of this site,” the OGEBC has still not taken the relevant provisions. Also entered in the preparations program, the development of the royal tomb of Massinissa, historical heritage dating back more than 2200 years, is also delayed even if the tomb remains fenced and guarded. Funerary monument attested to the Numidian king Massinissa, this building defies time and forgetfulness, it must also, as announced in 2014, to be a serious development program, but the project is still not started, or even developed elsewhere. The initial work of clearing began in April 2014 in several places of worship and public buildings augur a promising future work to the medina before, and residents and businesses in the Souika expressed confidence to see the scene as it were reborn their ruins. A year later, progress is barely noticeable as confirmed by the director of the OGEBC, Zekagh Abdelwahab, who admits that these projects have “stagnated” in the image of the mosque of Bey or some zaouïas. The Zaouia of Sidi M’Hamed Loghrab (low Souika), largely collapsed, was “completely clean” in 2014 and the study for the identical reconstruction of the mausoleum “is already underway,” except qu’aujourd ay, the site is stopped. Besides the places of worship, the permanent plan for the safeguarding and enhancement of the old medina of Constantine, adopted by the Wilaya Assembly in late 2012, which should support the restoration of the urban fabric and manned Souika the Casbah, was not initiated it. The Minister of Culture, Ms. Nadia Labidi said recently that the rehabilitation of the old city of Constantine are “deferred” because their preparation and execution “take time”, without specifying the date of restarting work. http://www.jeune-independant.net/La-rehabilitation-de-Tiddis-en.html]]>
THE RESTORATION OF TIDDIS ON HOLD
