A resident’s alarming encounter with a venomous snake spurred heated discussions at a Capital Trustees Board meeting, with officials calling for urgent measures to tackle dangers posed by abandoned properties across the country.
The board addressed pressing infrastructure and public service needs across the Capital Governorate’s constituency nine, encompassing areas such as Abu Al Aish, Wadyan, Sufala, Hamriya, East Sitra, East Eker and Ma’ameer.
A major part of the discussion was, however, focused on a complaint from a homeowner in East Eker, who reported frequent sightings of dangerous reptiles and pests emanating from an adjacent abandoned house and farm.
Officials highlighted the resident’s distress by showing a photograph of a slain venomous snake during the meeting, stressing the need for action.
Board chairman Saleh Tarradah emphasised commitment to address citizens’ concerns.
“Our primary goal is to ensure the safety and well-being of our residents by proactively tackling the challenges posed by neglected properties and inadequate infrastructure,” he said.
“Whether it is one report of a venomous snake or 100 such claims, we need to take action.
“We aim to revitalise constituency nine, ensuring that residents benefit from improved safety measures, enhanced public services and a better quality of life.”
The board reviewed a detailed presentation outlining the specific needs of each area.
Calls were made for the renovation of a housing park in Abu Al Aish. Officials also stressed the need to refurbish the park’s water tank, enhance street lighting and remove barbed wires. Demands were made to upgrade the light industries zone by improving lighting, sewage systems, roads and parking facilities.
In Wadyan, recommendations included converting a previously designated park area into organised parking spaces to streamline traffic, increasing street lighting, beautifying the roundabout on Road One, demolishing a derelict building, addressing a hazardous excavated land plot, deploying security personnel at Ibn Al Nafees Public Park, resolving water accumulation issues in the educational zone on Road 10, and tackling the proliferation of unauthorised canopies and garages obstructing public roads in Block 608.
The board emphasised the need for greening the main entrances and Roads Four and Five in Sufala (Block 609), as well as removing invasive plants, repairing roads, addressing the issue of abandoned buildings and clearing obstructions on Roads 914, 916 and 918.
Proposals for East Eker (Blocks 623 and 624) included refurbishing the local park, constructing a fishermen’s harbour, developing a pedestrian walkway, transforming a public square into a sports field, enhancing lighting in main entrances and internal roads and addressing the dangers posed by abandoned and dilapidated houses.
Meanwhile, in Ma’ameer (Blocks 633 and 634), the board discussed the need to renovate the pedestrian walkway to accommodate individuals with special needs. They also stressed the importance of implementing landscaping projects to mitigate the effects of toxic emissions, upgrading the sewage system in the industrial zone to alleviate burdens on investors, increasing street lighting, cleaning the coastline, and removing debris from a collapsed building directly facing the street.
The board’s services and public utilities committee chairwoman Huda Sultan outlined the importance of community involvement.
“Engaging with residents and understanding their needs is crucial,” she said. “Their feedback drives our initiatives and ensures that our solutions are both effective and sustainable.”
Board member Mohammed Al Abbas, a resident of constituency nine, affirmed his dedication to the cause.
“Living in this community, I witness first-hand the issues our residents face,” he said. “I am committed to advocating for improvements that will enhance our quality of life.”
All findings and recommendations will be distributed amongst concerned ministers for action and feedback.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
&uuid=(email))