Southern Council backs ban on damas trees in residential areas

TDT | Manama

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The Southern Municipal Council has backed a proposal to ban damas trees (Conocarpus) from homes and residential neighbourhoods in the Southern Governorate.

The council will write to the Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture to consider introducing the restriction.

Councillors approved the proposal at their meeting yesterday.

Vote

It was submitted by council member Abdullah Darraj, and passed by unanimous vote.

“Despite their benefits, we have received many complaints from residents,” Darraj told the council as he presented the case for a ban on planting the trees in housing areas.

The proposal focused on the tree’s roots, saying they tend to spread thickly and sideways rather than growing deep.

Pattern

The study said this pattern can damage infrastructure, with roots able to break into fresh-water pipes, sewage lines, and electricity and telephone cables, and in some cases push through rock and reinforced concrete in search of water, affecting roads, streets and pavements.

“Their roots cause major damage to the infrastructure of buildings, homes, roads, pavements and sewage networks, because they spread in search of water,” Darraj said.

The proposal also cited yearround leaf and seed fall, and fruit described as foul-smelling, saying this leads to dirt building up on streets, pavements and soil and affects the look of neighbourhoods.

Harmful

It said the tree can draw insects and offer shelter for harmful reptiles such as snakes, can alter soil properties in ways that make it less suitable for other plants, grows quickly into uncultivated areas, and uses large amounts of water.

The council’s letter to the minister will ask for the matter to be reviewed, with a view to banning the planting of damas trees (Conocarpus) in homes and residential areas across the Southern Governorate.