Muharraq Council Trials 48-Hour Grace Period Before Fines

Warnings before fines will be tested after councillors sent a 48-hour notice plan for further study yesterday, while also approving urgent works to tackle groundwater under a Samaheej home and a new entrance and exit for the Al Sayh petrol station. The council asked its committee to set out how the 48-hour grace period would work and requested a meeting with the executive body to examine the plan.

Muharraq Municipal Council member Ahmed Al Moqahwi said residents often learn of penalties without prior notice and urged that a warning come first, with a fine only if people ignore requests to clear sand piles or building materials from outside their homes. Households He said fines of BD100 to BD300 weigh on households and called for applying the ‘spirit’ of the law. Muharraq Municipal Council member Abdulqader Mahmoud said some offences, especially those tied to cleanliness, could be dealt with more lightly. He said BD100 is not a small sum for families and asked for a review to identify cases where a warning could avoid an immediate fine.

Cooperation

The Councillor added that residents would cooperate if given prior notice. On safety, members approved steps to address groundwater seepage at a house in Block 234, Samaheej. Sixth District representative Fadhil Al Oud said the seepage has damaged the structure, cracked floors and walls and harmed foundations and fittings, creating high humidity and an unhealthy environment that puts residents at risk. A dedicated entrance and exit will be built for the Al Sayah petrol station serving the Busaiteen ring road. On primary care, members repeated their call for the Ministry of Health to return the medical files of residents in Blocks 203, 205 and 207 to Muharraq Health Centre, as it is nearer. They noted that patients are now sent to Halat Bu Maher Health Center, which is farther away, and that higher patient numbers from Dair and Arad are adding pressure on the centre.

Families

Many families live next to Muharraq Health Centre yet remain registered at Halat Bu Maher, they said, which is impractical for many older people and children. The council also reviewed updates on Seventh District requests concerning pooled water and on paving the area in front of Saad bin Muadh Mosque with block paving or asphalt.