Sultan instructs municipality to check violations in residential towers

Jihan Shuaib, Staff Reporter

His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, instructed the emirate’s municipality to attach more importance to everything related to towers and residential buildings.

Based on this, the municipality has assigned a department to follow up on all violations and wrong practices such as bachelors' and labour accommodations that violate the laws and regulations and the cleanliness of towers and buildings.

The municipality decided to hold owners accountable for violations and wrong practices committed in their buildings, towers.

Based on the directives of the director general of the municipality, a mobile number 056/2601111 was dedicated to receive residents’ complaints, Khalid Bin Falah Al Suwaidi, Assistant Director General of Sharjah Municipality for Customer Service Sector, said through the Direct Line programme broadcast live on Sharjah Radio and TV.

"Building owners should follow up on the wrong practices in their respective apartments so that the necessary measures would be taken," he added.

Al Suwaidi explained that as soon as a complaint is received, specialized teams from the municipality go to the place in question to check if there is a violation before a fine is imposed.

"The teams forward a first, second and third notice unless the violation is proven from the first time, in which case a fine is issued against the owner in whose name the contract is concluded," he said, noting that all interrupted services as a result of the fine would be resumed only after the complaint is redressed.

Al Suwaidi explained that the municipality should make sure that no unauthorized segments such as workers are available in the residential unit.

It must also ensure that there are no unacceptable practices such as the presence of males and females in one apartment or excessive number of tenants are available, he added.

The municipality prefers to solve the problem of disturbance between neighbours in a friendly manner, unless the violation is repeated, he said, noting that more than 90 per cent of complaints are amicably redressed with the intervention of suburban councils.