“They are pressing on me to hold me back from my decision to close quarries that are violating environmental protection laws,” Rahhal said. In response to those attempts, I insist on implementing the law, he said.

The minister said that he will not follow any administrative deadlines calling on other ministers to coordinate with his ministry to regulate prices, and monitor quarry owners “who are working secretly at night protected by darkness.”

Rahhal said that there is a need for sand and rock quarries but their work should be supervised and regulated by the law. The minister said that the use of explosives in quarries damages houses and villages, and underground water resources.

Rahhal was speaking following his meeting with the permanent secretariat for the National Environment Convention.

The Convention said that the number of quarries currently stands at 45, much less than the earlier number of 450. It warned that thousands of houses are threatened of collapsing because of quarries.