All municipalities in the country should adopt an effective mechanism to prevent partitioning of residential properties and end the practice of sub-letting, the Central Municipal Council (CMC) recommended yesterday.
At its regular biweekly session yesterday, the CMC reiterated it concerns over the spread of such illegal practices, especially in view of their adverse security and social consequences as well as the resultant overload on public utilities.
The council stressed that the municipalities should implement the laws and regulations that governed such issues. At the same time, permanent solutions should be found to address the shortage of affordable accommodation in different parts of the country, it was observed.
These solutions could include studying the possibility of raising the height of buildings and having more multi-storey buildings that will include apartments and studios. Another study should be conducted to create new areas designated for high-rise residential buildings, to be undertaken by private investors.
The issue of partitioning - or subdivision - of villas and other residential properties in Qatar has been raised several times in the past and the crackdowns have also been carried out in order to curb the practice.
Meanwhile, the CMC yesterday recommended that the Ministry of Municipality and Environment allocate land - measuring around 50,000sq m - to create a central market in Al Khor. This will serve the northern parts of the country and be similar to the facilities in Al Wakrah, Al Sayliyah and Umm Salal.
CMC member Sheikha al-Jufairi raised the issue of using plastic bags for bakery products, pointing to the risks posed to human health, and demanded a broad discussion of the matter in the upcoming sessions of the council.