MPs demand 25 pc reclaimed land for housing projects

Manama : Lawmakers have demanded the Government to allocate 25 per cent of reclaimed lands to construct housing projects for citizens. A bill to this effect was passed by the House of Representatives in its weekly meeting yesterday.  The bill was initially proposed by MP Mohammed Al Maarifi who supports building houses in tourist and investment areas. 

The decision of the MPs came despite the government’s opposition to the proposal, which cited ‘constitutional violations’ for the rejection, according to officials. “The percentage is small and won’t benefit the housing sector. Plus, the proposal violates the property ownership rights,” said Shura Council and Representatives Council Affairs Minister Ghanem Al Buainain, who represents the government.

“Land reclamation permits are mainly given to investment, tourism and industrial projects. These projects are located in remote areas and establishing housing units there won’t be appropriate. The government with all of its concerned ministries have rejected this proposal,” Al Buainain added, requesting the MPs to attach an explanatory memorandum on several “unclear” points of the proposal before referring it to the government. 

The government has previously replied to the council stating that the proposal limits the economic investment opportunities.

Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning and Housing Ministries have affirmed in their replies that certain policies and mechanisms are adopted in implementing housing projects by the authorities concerned.

Housing crisis

Several MPs in the House of Representatives have stressed that the proposal is a solution to the existing housing crisis in the Kingdom and would reduce the long waiting lists for housing units.

 “Adopting this bill would help citizens in areas like the capital, where lands to build housing units aren’t sufficient,”  MP Ahmed Qarata said. 

“There are requests for housing units in Manama since 1985, but they’re not fulfilled due to lack of land in the governorate. How much longer do citizens have to wait,”  asked  Qarata.

“If this proposal is approved it will benefit the dire need for housing projects in areas like Manama and its suburbs and it would help citizens obtain their long-awaited homes,”  the MP Qarata said.

“We have a housing crisis in Bahrain and the council as well as the government are obligated to come up with solutions,” said MP Mohsen Al Bakri,  echoing a similar
view. 

“There are requests waiting for a unit for around 25 years. We live in a small country that has many investment projects. These projects benefit the private sector and investors, but not citizens,” Al Bakri added while expressing his support to the bill.

Mixed use

MPs Mohammed Al Maarifi, Jalal Kadhem and Ali Al Ateesh commented on Al Buainain’s statements that excluded the idea of building housing units in tourist, investment and commercial areas.

Al Maarifi, who initially presented the proposal, supported building houses in tourist and investment areas, mentioning that Amwaj Islands and Diyar Al Muharraq are a good example.

“The proposal would encourage investors to establish housing projects, which is beneficial for all,” Al Maarifi said. As for Kadhim and Al Ateesh, they both criticised how commercial establishments and malls were permitted to open in residential areas, while citizens are not allowed to live in commercial areas.

“Citizens in areas like Buquwa and Janabiya paid hundreds of thousands to build their residences in quiet areas to escape the loud life of the city. Few years later they’re surprised with shopping malls opening right at their door steps. Building houses near tourist, investment or commercial areas shouldn’t be a problem,” Kadhim added.

Meanwhile, MPs Abdulrahman Buali and Khalid Al Shaer expressed their rejection to the proposal, stating that a clear mechanism to implement is required as it contains several loopholes that may harm citizens’ interests.