Muharraq Souq upgrade plan sent back to committee after ‘cosmetic’ fix row

TDT | Manama

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A dispute over “cosmetic” fixes at Muharraq Souq led councillors to return an upgrade plan to committee for reconsideration, with members saying the site’s long-running problems need deeper work before any recommendation goes back to the council floor.

The recommendation was submitted by council chairman Abdulaziz Al Naar and focused on listing the market’s key needs.

It included proposals for enough, well-run car parking, dedicated spaces for loading and unloading, facilities suited to people with disabilities, suitable public toilets, points selling water and tea, and suitable spaces for women’s prayer.

Response

Member Fadhil Al Oud said the issues were plain to see, but said the response so far had not dealt with the main cause.

“The problem in Muharraq Central Market is clear to everyone, but dealing with it has been cosmetic,” he told the session. “Just providing parking or partial fixes is like “make-up” for the problem, without solving it from the roots.”

He said the core issue was the removal of agricultural basins and replacing them with car parks, adding that the work carried out in relation to those basins was unsound and needed correction.

Updates

Member Abdul qader Mahmood said there had been a number of new updates in the file, noting that Al Naar was aware of them after a meeting with several parties to discuss the latest developments.

He said the new information shaped the wording of the recommendation and called for it to be returned to the relevant committee so it could be reviewed again and presented more clearly to the council.

The council voted to refer the recommendation back to the committee, ahead of bringing it again to the council once the review is complete and the latest developments are presented.