Galali drainage projects fail to stop rainwater pooling

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Rainwater drainage projects in two Galali blocks have not stopped repeat pooling at the same sites.

This was according to Muharraq Municipal Council deputy chairman Saleh Buhazaa as he called on the Ministry of Works to commission an independent technical assessment and carry out further remedial work.

Buhazaa said the two schemes were carried out under the ministry’s plan in Block 255 on Road 5544 near Al Muharraq Oasis and in Block 254 on Road 5426.

He said the works were announced for June and July 2024, with approved budgets of BD81,000 for the first project and BD8,000 for the second, and that the contract was awarded to Al Tadhamon Excavation Company.

Duty

“Out of a sense of national and municipal duty, and to protect people and property, we want to express our deep dissatisfaction with the stalling and failure of the two rainwater drainage projects,” Buhazaa said in a statement.

He said rainwater continues to gather in the same locations, and pointed to possible faults in the technical studies, the way the work was carried out, site supervision, or the final handover.

The Council deputy head said the works were meant to address known points where rainwater has collected for years.

Review

Buhazaa called on the ministry to carry out an urgent, independent technical review to explain the reasons for the outcome, then redo the affected areas in a way that resolves the issue.

He also urged it to identify any shortcomings and assign responsibility under existing rules, and to strengthen technical oversight on future rainwater drainage schemes.

“We will continue to follow up on this file responsibly, and take the necessary legal and oversight steps to safeguard residents’ rights and reach lasting solutions,” he said.