A SENIOR MP has asked for guarantees from the government that people will be able to continue reaching public coastlines.
Parliament services committee chairman Ahmed Al Ansari, a former Southern Municipal Council chairman, said if privately-owned land was built on in the future access could be blocked.
“We want real guarantees that people will be able to continue enjoying coastlines for picnicking and swimming and other activities and not be robbed of them as they gradually become out of bounds,” he said in the presence of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Minister Essam Khalaf.
Mr Khalaf said in a written statement that Bahrain had 34 public coastlines stretching up to 41.83km. He told MPs that seven more registered coastlines, stretching up to 10.225km, were under development.
Those under development include a 2km section in Galali, 1.029km in Dair, 940 metres in Samaheej, 1.034km in Abu Sobh, Duraz, 119m on one side in Karazakan and 234.5m on the other side, and 4.871km on Bilaj Al Jazair.
Mr Khalaf said 17 additional locations have been identified covering a distance of 123.7km, including a 49km stretch around the protected Tubli Bay.
Meanwhile, Mr Khalaf also said in another response that new computerised technologies were being used to spot municipal violations despite a shortage in the number of inspectors.
“We have seen more efficiency in spotting violations and taking action through the use of technologies that we have introduced,” said Mr Khalaf.
Meanwhile, MPs approved urgent proposals to allow normal surgeries at Salmaniya Medical Complex rather than emergencies and giving employees moving from the Bahrain Training Institute to the Education Ministry proper job descriptions. They have been referred to the Cabinet.
Other urgent proposals were dropped including plans to give permanent employment for doctors at SMC, renaming SMC after the late Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, fixing and securing marine clay areas and increasing services at salons and hairdressers restricted under Covid-19 precautions.
The required votes were not achieved in another proposal to allow hairdressers and salons to offer more services and opening a donations platform under the Labour and Social Development Ministry. They will be debated next week.
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