Bachelors can dwell in Kalba buildings, says Sharjah Ruler

Hajar Khamis, Staff Reporter

His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has instructed to allow bachelors to dwell in the commercial buildings next to the residential neighborhoods in the city of Kalba. These buildings will have to install curtains on windows and balconies, especially on the sides overlapping the neighborhoods provided not to obscure light and ventilation. The Municipality shall bear the cost of these installations based on the directives of His Highness that reflects his keenness to ensure comfortability and privacy of citizens in the residential neighborhoods.

This was announced on Thursday by Salem Mohammed Al Naqbi, Head of Municipalities and Agriculture Affairs Department in Sharjah, and Acting Director of Municipal Council of Kalba.

In a phone call to the radio programme “Al Khatt Al Mubasher”, Al Naqabi said, “We are in Kalba and in the Eastern Region in general, do not have a separate commercial area and all buildings are overlooking the residential neighborhoods,”

He continued, “His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah takes into account interests of citizens at the first place to ensure their welfare. In the past, the municipal council enacted rules that prevent bachelors to dwell in those buildings. And with the current economic situation, owners of these buildings expressed their worries that their building are about to be empty. Thus, we raised the matter to His Highness who directed the concerned departments to allow the bachelors to dwell in those buildings and to cover the windows overlooking the residential neighborhoods with curtain provided not to obscure light and ventilation on the expenses of the municipality.”

Early last month, Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, instructed the Sharjah Directorate of Public Works to set up a sewer network in Khor Fakkan.

This was announced by Eng. Ali Bin Shaheen Al Suwaidi, Chairman of Sharjah Directorate of Public Works.

The project of establishing the integrated sewer network and the wastewater treatment plant in Kalba is in its final stage and is scheduled to be completed by early next month at a total cost of Dhs310 million, Al Suwaidi had said.

The network will serve 2,217 buildings including 82 government buildings, which will be exempted from fees, 58 commercial buildings and 2,077 houses for citizens including 557 houses for the beneficiaries of the Department of Social Services such as people of determination and elderly people, who will be exempted from all fees, and 1,520 for other people who will pay the fees in instalments over one year, Al Suwaidi added.

The project falls within the directorate’s strategic plan and is part of the emirate’s comprehensive strategic plan to develop sewer networks across the emirate in co-operation with Sharjah Urban Planning Council.

The lines of the networks are 111 kilometres long and include main lines and sub lines in addition to a 10-km long irrigation line.

The diameter of the pipes ranges between 160 and 1,200 mm. the wastewater treatment plant has a capacity of 3,700 cubic litres per day. The project also includes establishment of 100 inspection rooms.

Al Suwaidi pointed out that the work in the populated areas required a lot of care, particularly in places that contain residential and historical houses, to avoid any damage that might occur, noting that the drilling work reached in some areas 14 meters below the surface.

In addition to residential and commercial buildings, the project also serves petrol stations, public parks, hospitals, police stations, nurseries, schools and mosques in 13 areas, most notably Al Saf Square 16 and Square 19, Al Qal’ah, Kalba Creek, Al Burdi, Al Oud, Al Qadissiya, Al Sidra, Hitteen and Al Khuwair.

Recently, Sheikh Sultan inaugurated the Sharjah Mosque located at the intersection of Mleiha Road and the Emirates Road in Tay area at a cost of Dhs300 million.