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The flooding of Salwa Road underpasses during the recent rains was a hot topic of discussion at the Central Municipal Council (CMC) session yesterday. |
CMC chairman Saud al-Hinzab raised the issue pointing out that such an incident indicated serious defaults in the drainage network of these underpasses.
“Though it is only eight months since these underpasses were first opened and the cost of their construction were estimated at 1.7bn, they did not stand the test of rains,” he told the council.
He further said that this indicates the absence of proper planning and design for such vital and costly projects in the country. “It also shows the limited experience of consultant and executive companies undertaking similar major projects in the country.
“Competent authorities should launch a comprehensive investigation into the reasons behind this and those in charge for the shortcomings should be brought to justice,” he demanded, adding that such events reaffirmed the demands and recommendations of CMC to create an independent authority, completely separate from the Public Works Authority (Ashghal), for the management of public assets. “This authority would be mainly tasked with receiving projects from Ashghal upon completion and ensure proper implementations, besides maintenance and periodical follow-ups.”
CMC members highly appreciated the suggestions of al-Hinzab and strongly demanded that a correspondence sent to the office of HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior through HE the Minister of Municipality and Urban Planning to include two representative members from the CMC in the investigative committee on the issue ordered by HE the Prime Minister.
“Ashghal’s admitting that there are defaults in the project is something good and we have to accept that errors and mistakes do happen in a way or other. The issue now is to look into devising a strategy to fix this and avoid any similar incidences in the future,” said CMC member Mohamed al-Shafi.
Similarly, CMC members demanded that all public infrastructure projects should be submitted to a test period and an evaluation period by expert consultants before being finally handed over for operation.
Eventually, CMC member Saleh al-Khayarin demanded that the related penalties in the working laws of the country should be modified as these were put in a time when the value of projects were much lower than the current situation.
The members further demanded that the country should adopt a new strategy to provide the residents who suffered losses due to such incidents with compensation.
