Abandoned home plots for ‘public car parks’

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Councillors agreed yesterday to seize abandoned homes, some used to house undocumented labourers and linked to theft and drug activity, and turn the plots into car parks, aiming to ease neighbourhood disputes and clear out properties long left to rot.

The decision followed a proposal from Mohammed Hussain Darraj, who represents the fourth constituency.

He told The Daily Tribune that several derelict homes in residential areas had become hotspots for illegal activity, including the sheltering of undocumented workers, theft, and drug use. He said the buildings posed a safety risk and had become a source of ongoing nuisance to nearby families.

Mr Darraj added that the constituency suffers from a shortage of public parking, which has led to frequent rows among residents.

Reclaiming the abandoned properties, he argued, would help ease the pressure on local streets.

The council said the sites could be better put to use and that clearing them would improve the appearance of the neighbourhood, in line with the area’s ongoing development.

The proposal has now been referred to the relevant authorities to set out the steps required for implementation, based on recommendations outlined in the supporting study