Proposal for Annual ‘Rain Emergencies’ Budget to Clear Floodwater

Waterlogged streets could see faster pump-outs after Parliament backed an urgent plan for a dedicated yearly ‘rain emergencies’ budget, designed to pay contractors straight away.

The Council of Representatives approved the urgent proposal during Tuesday’s sitting. Put forward by MP Hassan Ibrahim and four other MPs, it also calls for an approved register of water-suction tankers and operators, checked in advance for technical readiness and safety.

Ibrahim grounded the request in constitutional duties on the state during public hardship, citing Article 5’s wording that the state “guarantees the necessary social security for citizens”, and Article 12’s provision that “the State guarantees society’s solidarity in bearing the burdens arising from disasters and public hardships”.

He said agencies already prepare ahead of the rainy season through operational plans, equipment readiness and coordination between bodies, but argued that pooling rainwater is dealt with as an emergency and needs a dedicated pot of money that can be released without the usual financial steps slowing payments.

Under the current set-up, he said, contractors are often tied to other yearly operating contracts, which can limit their ability in some cases to supply the agreed number of suction tankers on time, especially when the need arises in more than one location at once.

That can leave standing water in streets and residential areas longer than needed, affecting access in and out of homes, disrupting traffic, and raising concerns over public safety and damage to infrastructure, according to the proposal text.

The plan calls for an annual budget line to be activated when required and paid directly to contractors, alongside a pre-approved list of suction tankers owned by individuals or firms. Those tankers would be registered only after technical inspection and safety checks, with prior coordination with owners and a clear, fixed service fee, under the supervision of the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture and the Ministry of Works.