MPs rally support for fund to restore ageing neighbourhoods amid opposition

TDT | Manama

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Calls for a fund to fix Bahrain’s ageing neighbourhoods have picked up steam, with MPs warning that years of patchy maintenance and sluggish upgrades have left many areas in a sorry state.

Their proposal, which seeks government backing alongside private investment, won the support of the Southern Municipal Council yesterday — but not all councils are on board.

MPs Hamad Al Doy, Mohammed Mousa, and Hassan Ebrahim have proposed setting up an independent board to manage funding and prioritise areas most in need.

Comprising officials, community groups, and businesses, the board would rely on field studies to determine where upgrades should begin.

Feedback

Parliament’s Public Utilities and Environment Committee had requested feedback from municipal councils across the country regarding the proposed fund. However, responses have been mixed.

The Southern Municipal Council welcomed the plan, with chairman Abdullah Ibrahim AbdulLatif stressing the need for stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors to accelerate work.

“This has been running for 18 years, yet demand keeps growing. Getting businesses involved would speed up the work and help more people,” he said.

Government cash

Councillor Hamad Al Zaabi echoed this, arguing that relying solely on government cash would not get the job done.

“Real progress comes when businesses, communities, and authorities work together. It can’t all be left to the state,” he said.

The council will now seek talks with the Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture to explore funding options.

Yet, on Monday, the Muharraq Municipal Council rejected the proposal after a split vote, with members warning it would shift responsibility from the government to private donors.

Charitable contribution

Councillor Fadhel Al Oud argued that approving the fund would make the public reliant on charitable contributions. “The government has already told Parliament it cannot establish such a fund. Once private donations dry up, promised developments may never materialise,” he said.

His concerns reflect wider worries about sustainability, with critics fearing that once the fund is depleted, the government will refuse to step in. The push to fix old neighbourhoods is not new.

Home repairs and renovations

Since 2006, the Urban and Rural Development Project has carried out more than 12,000 home repairs and renovations, including adding rain barriers. AbdulLatif noted that the work has strong backing from the top.

“His Majesty the King and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister have always supported this programme, knowing how much it helps low-income families,” he said.