1116 families exempted from municipal charges

DT News Network

Manama

The Minister of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning, Essam Khalaf, has issued Ministerial Edicts cancelling and reducing municipal charges from a number of 1116 Bahraini, families who do not own a private home and who live in rented property.

The move was made in line with the directives of Prime Minister His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa to alleviate the burden of living and in accordance with the Cabinet resolution equalising Bahraini tenants with homeowners regarding municipal fees.

Undersecretary for Municipal Affairs in the Ministry, Dr. Nabil bin Mohammed Abulfateh, said these edicts follow the leadership's intent to provide dignified livelihood to all citizens. Dr. Abulfateh said citizen tenants who will benefit from the exemption or reduction of municipal charges will be able to obtain trash bags on monthly basis. 

The undersecretary said Edict 39/205 reduces the monthly municipal charges for a total number of 1085 Bahraini families. He added that Edict 40/2015 cancels outstanding arrears for a number of six indebted families and Edict 40/2015 exempts 25 indebted families from their prescribed monthly fees. The relevant municipality shall notify the beneficiaries from the exemption and reduction of municipal charges and the date of its validity for each beneficiary.

The undersecretary said there is continuous coordination between Municipal Affairs and the Directorate of Customer Services in EWA to modify the municipal charges for these families in their relevant electricity bills in compliance with the abovementioned ministerial edicts.