A PROPOSAL to build veterinary quarantine facilities at Bahrain’s borders need further review before the projects are implemented, said a minister.
The move, approved by the Northern Municipal Council, has been referred to the Housing and Urban Planning Ministry by the Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Minister Wael Al Mubarak.
Once a response is received from the ministry, the council will be informed, said Mr Al Mubarak.
However, councillor Abdullah Al Qubaisi was not happy with the response.
“Does the ministry consider us a joke, to send such responses,” he asked, during the council’s bi-weekly meeting yesterday.
“It’s our duty to propose moves that elevate the level of services to the citizens and residents,” he added.
“We haven’t asked for land for these projects at King Fahad Causeway and the Khalifa Bin Salman Port.
“Buildings for these projects already exist, so why are they referring this to the Housing and Urban Planning Ministry?”
The GDN previously reported that council vice-chairwoman Zaina Jassim proposed the establishment of veterinary quarantine facilities at the kingdom’s entry points.
According to her, they are considered the first line of defence to prevent the entry of animal diseases while also organising the import and export process, inspecting and quarantining incoming consignments and examining outgoing animals as well as issuing health certificates.
“Veterinary quarantine facilities require specific conditions and adhere to certain regulations as it isn’t a regular building,” said Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Ministry’s Municipal Council Affairs Department head Abdulmutaleb Al Salem yesterday.
“It’s necessary to get a response from the Housing and Urban Planning Ministry prior to referring it to other authorities concerned with the issue.”
The GDN previously reported that a proposed expansion of Bahrain’s national veterinary quarantine centre – at a cost of BD500,000 – and a construction permit was revoked following a ruling by the Supreme Civil Appeals Court.
The court ruled to cancel the Animal Wealth Directorate Veterinary Quarantine’s expansion project in Buri which had initially been set to be completed by last July.
Announced in July 2021, the project was set to double the centre’s capacity by building a new quarantine facility next to the old one, at a reported cost of BD556,789.
Citing health concerns, nine Buri residents brought a civil lawsuit against both the Works and the Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Ministers in December 2021, in an effort to halt the project.
Ms Jassim yesterday urged authorities to promptly issue a response to move forward with the development due to the issue’s ‘pressing nature’.
“As a council this is the first time we present such a proposal; however, it has been brought up previously by owners of slaughterhouses and livestock,” said Ms Jassim.
reem@gdnmedia.bh
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