Bahrain Municipal Council ban on Sitra projects lifted
Decision to rescind the ban comes after housing and works ministries and National Oil and Gas authority made several complaints about key services on Island being delayed
Bahrain’s Central Municipal Council has cancelled a 2007 decision banning development on the coasts of Sitra Island for a period of five years after studies showed it was stalling the area’s development.
The new decision, which is expected to pave the way for major infrastructure and housing projects, follows a request from Dr Juma Al Ka’abi, the Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Minister, saying the housing and works ministries as well as the National Oil and Gas Authority have made several complaints, saying key services in Sitra were being delayed due to the ban.
In an interview with the Gulf Daily News, Council chairman Abdulrazzak Al Hattab said, “When we imposed the ban in June 2007, we had one thing in mind and that’s protecting the coast from turning into private developments that residents wouldn’t benefit from.”
The new decision, however, prohibits building on the island’s sea fronts stretching up to one kilometre into the water to preserve its coastline and prevent reclamation.
“We are currently working on family recreational projects on the coast that would keep them clear of any private projects, but of course highly awaited government projects would go ahead,” said Al Khattab.
These public projects will include government housing developments and all necessary infrastructure including coastal public facilities, he added.
