DODGY builders found to have put up shoddy properties on unsuitable land will receive instant notice of their discrepancies and the fines they will face on their smartphones, it was revealed yesterday.
The new hi-tech communication solution should spell an end to lengthy and costly legal cases in which violators make out in court that they were unaware of any issues because they hadn’t received notice from officials.
Northern Municipality monitoring and inspection head Hisham Al Abbasi said inspectors would now be able to electronically scan and detect violations using specialised electronic devices.
“This improved innovative system will save time, money and effort, while ensuring accuracy,” he said.
“A message will be sent to the number associated with the government electronic portal within seconds.
“There will be no excuses for offenders. They will have to show up at the concerned municipality to reach an understanding on their willingness to clear up any building violations.”
Current equipment introduced nationwide in 2020 to help check the status of existing violations and the whereabouts of inspectors will shortly be upgraded, the meeting heard.
He added that technicalities for the new advanced system were being finalised by the Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Ministry, in co-ordination with other relevant ministries and government bodies.
“There is a massive overhaul to the current building violations’ system in which a new, mostly-automated, upgrade will be introduced to help inspectors scan and detect structural and architectural faults and wrongdoings,” he explained during the Northern Municipal Council meeting yesterday.
Members voted unanimously in favour of a proposal to action the electronic upgrade submitted by councillor Abdulla Al Qobaisi, despite being told that Minister Wael Al Mubarak was following up the same matter.
Property developers in Bahrain are now also being obliged by law to provide soil test certificates to secure building permits.
It comes under amendments to the 1977 Buildings Law, approved by the National Assembly in April last year, in an effort to ensure accountability of developers and promote safer buildings across the country.
A home in East Riffa earlier collapsed and inspectors in the Southern Municipality found that the building was constructed on a marshy garbage-ridden land, without using proper rocks and sand.
Thirteen homes had fallen apart in the same area as they were all built on swampy lands, with no testing done before approvals.
The GDN reported in 2016 that the Southern Municipal Council received complaints from people that cracks had appeared in hundreds of homes and buildings in the south of Bahrain.
Extreme weather, possibly linked to climate change, as well as construction on less stable ground, have provoked unprecedented foundation failures in houses built in Hunainiya and Buhair Valleys.
A Minnesota University report presented by the council at the time explained that moisture in fine soil causes it to expand and contract as temperatures rise and fall, affecting its stability.
A debate over easing construction regulations for residents living in social homes also took place.
The meeting heard that some homeowners started to make changes to their properties as soon as they received the keys without municipal authorisation, or in violation of building permits, claimed Northern Municipality director general Lamya Al Fadhala.
“The government, through the Housing and Urban Planning Ministry and associated partners, spend millions to build homes only to witness some destroyed by further improper construction work being carried out harming the structure, composure and strength of the buildings,” she claimed, adding that the odd-jobs left properties ‘ugly and odd’ looking.
“People wishing to make adjustments should visit us rather than reach out to so-called consultants. The municipality will help with designs for free,” said Ms Al Fadhala.
“It is not like we want people to violate building rules and get punished, but many seek to expand their new properties in disregard to the toll it might have on their homes, others around them or surrounding infrastructure.”
No decision was recorded following a debate on the issue.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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