Rashaya municipal heads and mukhtars pleaded with Environment Minister, Nazem Khoury, to intervene and stop what they termed as systematic destruction of the environment by intensive stone-quarrying in their area. They brought to his attention the heavy pollution caused by stone-quarrying activities deemed harmful to agriculture and public health. They also indicated that stone quarrying wreaked-havoc on asphalt roads running through towns and villages as well. Mukhtars and civil society activists threatened to escalate if their demands are not met.