Egypt acts to rescue its farmland from urban sprawl
The government is confronting the loss of farmland by demolishing homes and buildings constructed without permits.
CAIRO — Egyptian authorities are moving ahead with a big crackdown on homes and other buildings constructed illegally on farmland nationwide.
Municipal authorities have demolished thousands of structures built on agricultural land without permits and in violation of Egypt's agriculture laws.
These structures were constructed over the years because of corruption in some administrative offices, including in municipalities that should have been acting against construction violations. There are growing calls to bring to court municipal officials who failed in preventing such construction over the years.
Underlying the ongoing campaign is Egypt's fear about the loss of almost 9 million acres of farmland to urban expansion.
