AN SOS has been made to cover up holes in residential areas as rats, snakes, scorpions and other creepy-crawlies have been spotted running rampant between the cracks.
Parliament public utilities and environment affairs committee chairman Mohammed Buhamood has raised concerns over a policy of fixing large numbers of holes in one go, rather than individually, but accepts it makes financial sense.
“Due to financial rules, all assignments that would be handled by contractors need to come through one tender to save costs and that’s understandable, which means that residents unfortunately have to wait for up to six months after first reporting problems.
“The Health Ministry needs to step in and take whatever necessary action is needed to control the situation until the roads are fixed.”
The MP hopes the Health Ministry will neutralise the pests with chemical sprays until the Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry is able to step in.
His reaction came following several complaints from concerned residents. A video obtained by the GDN shows a rat coming in and out of a hole in front of the entrance to a home in Hamad Town.
Mr Buhamood, however, has urged people not to ‘do it themselves’. “People can’t just fill up the holes themselves since roads are public property and there could be other underground issues and connections that may get affected,” explained Mr Buhamood, who is a former Northern Municipal Council chairman.
“However, the situation needs addressing as it is leading to the spread of rats, snakes and scorpions, amongst other disease-transmitting insects.”
Northern Municipal Council technical committee chairman Abdulla Al Qobaisi, whose constituency covers the area where the video was taken, has called for an emergency budget to be set aside for repairs to be carried out immediately for the sake of public welfare.
“If the rule is to wait for several holes to emerge it is just not good enough,” he said. “Health Ministry involvement is welcomed but the rats’ nests may be deep underground so they’ll return within a month or two.”
He claimed the rat video focused on a hole in front of a property where an orphaned family live. One of the children has serious health issues and has spotted the rat inside as well as outside her home.
“I am willing to pay for repairs and carry them out of my own but the Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry refused the offer saying it should be handled by the experts and it would be dealt with later – but at what expense, people’s health?”
mohammed@gdn.com.bh
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