MANAMA: Members of Bahrain’s largest municipal council have lashed out at the Works, Municipalities and Urban Planning Minister, alleging that his ‘discriminatory attitude’ was hampering projects and leading to loss of public money.
They claimed that the minister was striking down several proposals for classification of lands without a valid explanation, while approving requests from other entities.
Lands across the country are classified into residential, commercial, agricultural or industrial and any project in these plots are approved based on these specifications. Members of the Northern Municipal Council claimed that they had submitted three proposals for classification and while the plan for Saar was approved, ones for Al Jasra and Barbar were turned down.
“What is strange is that properties in Saar and Al Jasra were under the same categorisation, yet one received a green light while the other was thrown out without any reason provided,” said council’s technical committee chairman Abdullah Al Qubaisi.
“It’s unfair as the only difference I can see is that one was proposed by the ministry, while those rejected were proposed by the council.
“This has been a recurrent issue, the council approves property classifications for projects – only to be rejected repeatedly by the ministry.”
Mr Al Qubaisi
Mr Al Qubaisi highlighted the case of a Bahraini woman in Hamad Town who wanted to operate a kindergarten in the area. According to him, the proposal was approved by the council with all legal requirements fulfilled, yet it was rejected by the Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry.
He said the Bahraini took the matter to court, which ruled in her favour, ordering a payout of thousands of dinars in damages.
“Our purpose is to serve people, it is absolutely ridiculous for us as an elected body to sit and watch as such issues are taken to court. It is leading to waste of public money,” added Mr Al Qubaisi.
“I don’t know on what basis our proposals are refused. “What are the categories that the ministry relies on that are not known to us? How are we supposed to tell people, who have been waiting for years, that their requests have been denied without a reason.”
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