Reclaiming Bahrain's million-palm era

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain is well on its way to reclaiming the “the land of a million palm trees” title soon, said the Works Minister.

The million palm project is right there on top of the ministry’s priority list, said Essam Khalaf, the Minister of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning. The Kingdom was once a tropical paradise with a palm tree in sight no matter where you look.

Now the Works Ministry is trying to reclaim that era through several projects. Khalaf said the ministry is actively pursuing the “Palm proliferation initiative, “through which we seek to return Bahrain as the country of one million palm trees.” “For this, the ministry has also developed an integrated system for developing and maintaining green areas in the Kingdom.”

Essam Khalaf, the Minister of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning, said the project aims to increase tree density, maintenance of irrigation system and pruning of trees and palms in the streets. Works ministry, Khalaf said, maintains over 200 parks and other public places annually. “We are also working on new projects like the Muharraq Grand Park, which has nearly a thousand trees and huge green spaces.”

“Works is also underway on the water park and other projects,” the minister added. “We are continuing efforts to promote sustainable urban development to increase the green cover, which also aims at enhancing the quality and efficiency of services provided to citizens and residents.” He said, “The ministry has set a strategy to increase afforestation, greenery and tree density in Bahrain.”

“The ministry is in direct touch with the Supreme Council for the Environment to determine the variety of plants and trees suitable for the climatic conditions of the Kingdom.” The minister also pointed out that the beautification works of the 92 thousand square meter Farouq intersection were completed recently as part of the project.

At the Farouq intersection, there are over 800 different types of shade and ornamental trees, shrubs, evergreen flowering plants, and date palms suitable for the climate of Bahrain. “ Besides , the ministry completed the first phase of Al-Janabiya Interchange and is now moving on with the second phase.”

The project over 120 thousand square meters of areas has various types of trees and shrubs planted in geometric patterns, using Hibiscus, acacia, India jasmine and jatropha.

The ministry is also pursuing “a Garden Friends initiative to engage the community in playing a positive role and assume responsibilities.” He added, “The ministry is also working to beautify the streets through several projects like the agricultural oasis project.”

Khalaf said the ministry had also established agricultural nurseries in every governorate of the Kingdom. “The project also falls within the Kingdom’s greening and beautification strategy.”