DISORDERLY expatriate workers in residential neighbourhoods in the Northern Governorate continue to be a menace to the residents, claimed councillors, who warn of dire consequences in the absence of proper checks.
Northern Municipal Council members yesterday highlighted a growing phenomenon of expatriates living in unlicensed accommodation within residential neighbourhoods with some landlords skirting the law to rent out properties.
Councillor Abdulla Al Qubaisi, who represents constituency nine (Hamad Town – west part from roundabout four to 13) pointed out such accommodations are being monitored by a special committee under the Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry consisting of the heads of monitoring and inspection departments at all three municipalities and the Capital Trustees Authority.
However, he stressed the importance of involving municipal councils in the committee due to their close ties with residents in their constituencies and first-hand experience with complaints.
“In my constituency block 1205 there are two buildings where expatriates are living and they are wreaking havoc in the neighbourhood,” he told the GDN.
“I have received numerous complaints of immoral acts, drinking in public and disorderly conduct and these people hang out in the street at all hours with residents fearing for the safety of their families and domestic workers.
“Landlords are leaving these buildings swarming with expatriates without proper monitoring while living in a completely different area.
“We receive complaints daily and we need authorities to step up and punish these violators; we have also seen people building additional rooms in their houses to rent out and that’s a violation of the housing law.”
He said pressure on the infrastructure, water and electricity network, sewerage system as well as parking spaces is increasing in residential neighbourhoods with people illegally renting out property to expatriates.
“This is a two-pronged issue – we need to also look at the living conditions of these workers as some of them are in overcrowded rooms sharing facilities.”
Fellow councillors voiced similar concerns with Faisal Shabeeb also raising the issue of randomly-fenced land in which expatriates take residence while walking around indecently dressed. Hussain Al A’ali highlighted that the two-pronged issue needs to be carefully studied.
The importance of involving the municipal council in the committee was also emphasised by Dr Sayed Shubbar Al Wedaie who as an environmental expert himself, highlighted the dangers associated with such violations.
“We need to look at the entire situation and dangers associated with it such as health, society and the environment,” he said.
“We need to involve the people who live in these areas and ask for their input while also visiting the scene to get the full picture and thoroughly study the situation before taking a decision.”
The council unanimously approved the proposal and a formal request will be referred to Minister Essam Khalaf for review to ensure municipal councils are given representation on the committee.
reem@gdn.com.bh
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