BROKEN cinder blocks, metal spikes, wooden planks, plastic bags and hardened cement in a residential neighbourhood have sparked fears of criminal activities and environmental hazards.
Angry residents of Block 514 on Road 1452 in Jid Al Hajj have demanded answers to the construction waste littering public space.
Area councillor Dr Sayed Shubbar Al Wedaei, who is also an environmental expert, told the GDN during a visit to the area yesterday that the development of roads in the newly constructed area – which is 90 per cent complete – has been delayed due to the waste occupying the public road.
“I receive so many complaints from residents in the area,” he said.
“These visits are crucial because authorities are not fully aware of how disastrous this area has become as this waste has been piling up since 2019.
“Legal action can be taken against these egregious violations, as clearly outlined in the laws, so warnings must be issued and fines imposed.
“This newly constructed and beautiful neighbourhood has turned into a landfill which is unacceptable.”
Dr Al Wedaei said that these were serious violations of both the 2019 Public Cleanliness Law and the 1996 Occupancy of Public Roads Law.
He demanded that fines be imposed on violators who refused to adhere to warnings issued by the Northern Municipality.
He pointed out that the government was doing its utmost to tackle such violations and that contractors must be held accountable for the random dumping of the construction waste.
“We urge contractors and developers to adhere to laws governing construction and disposal of waste,” said Northern Municipalities co-ordination and information head Ali Al Salem.
“They must provide large dumpsters while constructing these projects to dispose of the waste instead of throwing it in open spaces.”
He said that fines ranging between BD50 and BD300 are issued if individuals ignore warnings to clear the waste.
Meanwhile, a Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning engineer revealed that road development was halted in the area due to the dumped waste in most open spaces and on the public road.
“Under the laws, people must remove the construction waste that is generated during the process of developing a property by providing a large dumpster to collect it and transport it to a landfill,” said waste management company Urbaser Bahrain technical manager Yasin Mukthar.
“During this entire visit we only spotted two or three dumpsters which is nowhere near enough for the quantity of waste generated.
“Warnings are issued by the municipality and if people refuse to clear the waste we clear it and the property owner is charged.
“As a cleaning company, construction waste isn’t part of our regular duties.”
Service
He added that many private companies provided the services of construction waste dumpsters. People can contact them to legally conduct collection and disposal of the generated construction waste.
Dr Al Wedaei stressed the importance of more intensified inspections and monitoring campaigns and using the full weight of the law to punish violators.
reem@gdn.com.bh
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