Ferries and water rides could be set up around Bahrain’s only natural lake under a plan to turn the area into a top eco-friendly destination.
The Al Louzi lake, located between Hamala and Hamad Town, is home to thousands of migrating birds, wildlife and marine species.
The Northern Municipal Council is seeking to invite private investors to develop the lake by setting up water rides, floating restaurants, cafés and merchandise outlets around it.
The council’s vice-chairman and area councillor Yaseen Zainal has submitted a proposal, which has been forwarded to the Cabinet for review.
Part of the lake was fenced off in 2017 after residents of the area were found dumping waste around the attraction. However, Mr Zainal said denying public access wasn’t the right solution to the problem and that people should be made aware of the need to preserve the water body, which has great tourism potential.
“There are homes and businesses surrounding the lake, but the water body itself has been largely neglected over the years,” said Mr Zainal.
“We can set up eco-friendly projects like ferries, water rides, floating restaurants and cafés without destroying the natural habitats. It’s merging development with nature by using makeshift construction materials that do not harm the environment.
“The lake could then prove to be a great tourist attraction.”
Mr Zainal said lab tests conducted by the Health Ministry in May 2019 found that water in the lake was ‘better than first thought’. However, she stressed the need to add new filters to maintain a healthy ecosystem.
“Though the lake is not connected to the sea, it contains fish and other marine creatures. This proves that the water is fresh for the time being and needs to be kept in a good condition, with necessary filters and circulation equipment installed,” she added.
People living close to the lake breathed a sigh of relief in October 2019 after suffering flooding issues for months.
The lake had been split into two bodies of water, one of which had no overflow protection – causing water levels to rise occasionally and burst its banks. A simple solution was found by removing a separation barrier, meaning excess water drained effectively.
However, homes near the lake were flooded again this year following heavy rains in January, with the Cabinet ordering compensations.
The then Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry immediately launched work to secure the embankment of the lake and the project was completed in February.
The lake was previously reduced in size to allow work on a government housing project, with homes built in partnership with the private sector. Dannat Al Louzi Housing Town, which surrounds the lake, was inaugurated in February 2020.
The new town consists of 303 houses along with a commercial centre and a walkway overlooking the lake.
Meanwhile, MP Mohammed Buhamood described the lake as a ‘swamp’ and said it should be filled in.
“The lake has no connection to the sea or any other bay of water nearby, it is stagnant,” he said.
“I don’t know why the government still insists on calling it a ‘lake’ officially on maps, when it clearly is a swamp. Most of it has already gone to the Housing and Urban Planning Ministry for housing projects in partnership with the private sector.
“The whole lake should be used for the same purpose, rather than being kept in the state it is in at the moment.”
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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