HAPPY campers have been busy packing up and officials have urged them to clear all sites as the country concentrates on the F1 weekend and prepares for the holy month of Ramadan, which starts later this month.
The successful three-an-half-month camping season formally ended yesterday. It had returned after a three-year hiatus owing to the Covid-19 pandemic and thousands of families flocked to areas south of Bahrain – stretching from Awali to Sakhir.
“People now have to start removing all tents, items and belongings from designated sites as the area should be cleared by the end of next week at the latest,” said Southern Municipal Council chairman Abdulla Abdullatif.
“It was a successful season and people enjoyed their time and now we should shift our attention to the weekend’s grand prix, then Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr, with people worshipping, fasting, socialising, visiting family members and friends and sharing this special time.
“So even those still in a good camping mood will need all their energy and enthusiasm for what’s coming next.”
With the official camping season ended, people have been urged not to continue pouring into the desert to take advantage of the pleasant weather conditions. Anyone spotted setting up mini-tents and cooking on portable gas stoves in the area will face tough penalties.
“Legal action will be taken against violators who continue to camp,” warned Mr Abdullatif. “Anyone spotted on the site outside the authorised time will be in clear defiance of the rule of law.”
The camping date debate has continued in other chambers, however. MPs voted unanimously last month to have the season extended until after Eid. However, there has been no official government response to the proposal.
In January last year, the council called for the traditional camping area to be cordoned off to pave the way for oil exploration. Perhaps in readiness, this season an additional new site away from any likely excavation zone proved just as popular.
The GDN reported back in February 2018 that Tatweer Petroleum had told former Southern Municipal Council members that between three to four million barrels of oil – worth more than $175 million at the time – had been located onshore, in an area covering both camping and scrapyard sites.
The area’s oil excavations should not be confused with an earlier announcement that up to 80 billion barrels of shale oil had been discovered off Bahrain’s west coast.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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