A renewed call for swift, co‑ordinated action has been issued in Muharraq as councillors highlight ongoing concerns over rainwater drainage, saying the lingering issues continue to inconvenience residents.
They argue that the most recent wave of flooding should prompt a thorough review and timely intervention, stressing that only practical, on‑the‑ground solutions will prevent similar disruptions in future rainy seasons.
Heavy rainfall last month left several streets across the governorate waterlogged, drawing sharp criticism from councillors. They deputised Muharraq Municipal Council vice‑chairman Saleh Buhazaa to address what they labelled a ‘clear failure’ in the handling of the situation.
Raising the matter during yesterday’s council meeting, Mr Buhazaa said residents were forced to deal with flooded roads, disrupted movement and damage to property last month. He accused the authorities of ‘trading blame instead of delivering solutions’.
He asserted that the Works Ministry bears direct responsibility in areas already equipped with rainwater drainage networks – networks which, he claimed, failed to function adequately during the downpour.
“These areas are served by drainage systems that should be operated and maintained by the Works Ministry. Yet, we saw water accumulating, streets flooding and citizens’ interests disrupted,” he said.
He further alleged that the Works Ministry attempted to shift blame onto the Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Ministry, despite the affected areas falling under its scope of work.
“If these networks exist and are under the Works Ministry’s supervision, where was its role in addressing the problem? Who is responsible for the failure of these systems to drain the rainwater?” he asked.
Mr Buhazaa said the incident highlighted a lack of co‑ordination between government bodies, leaving citizens to shoulder the consequences each time heavy rainfall occurs. “We need real and swift solution that protects people from repeated damage every rainy season,” he said.
He called for a transparent investigation into the ‘failures’ recorded in parts of Muharraq and urged the development of a clear action plan to rectify existing shortcomings and prevent future recurrences.
“We need to understand why these networks are not functioning as intended in certain areas, and what will be done to ensure this does not happen again,” he said.
Mr Buhazaa affirmed that the Muharraq Municipal Council will continue to pursue the issue until ‘fundamental solutions’ are achieved.
“We will not stand idle. This matter concerns the safety, mobility and daily lives of citizens and we will follow it closely until residents’ rights are protected and this unjustified negligence is addressed,” he said.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
&uuid=(email))