Abandoned cars on the streets of Bahrain a silent threat to the environment

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Cars with “For Sale” stickers continue to plague the streets of Bahrain as agencies stepped up campaigns to enforce action against their owners amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Shaikh Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, the Undersecretary for Municipal Affairs at the Ministry of Works, Municipal Affairs and Urban Planning, said they recorded 2,246 such instances of “for sale” and scrap cars eating up the public spaces of Kingdom in the last five months. Discarded vehicles clogging up roads and causing environmental hazards are yet another concern. The municipality removed 1,323 rusting piles of metals that once used to be cars from streets from January to May 2021.

Violations related to cars illegally placed on streets and public roads with for sale tag amounted to 923, said Shaikh Mohammed. Charges as per Law No. (10) of 2019 regarding public cleanliness and its executive regulations are pressed against owners of such cars by the capital secretariat and concerned municipalities.

The Public Hygiene law no 10 of 2019 article no 7 prohibits abandoning or leaving cars on streets, sidewalks, public squares and beaches. The Undersecretary confirmed that they would go ahead with campaigns and are determined to wipe out all such violations. Area wise, he said they recorded the majority of such violations in the Northern region municipality at 834 cases. Closely following was Capital municipality with 566 violations, Southern district municipality with 479 and Muharraq with 367 violations.

Shaikh Mohammed said they would continue inspections campaigns to end this menace plaguing the streets and distorting the aesthetics of residential areas. “It is also causing major harm to the environment,” he said, calling on owners of such vehicles to take the initiative to remove them from public spaces. “To implement the law, we need community partnership, as the public hygiene law starts with the citizen. Cleanliness matters to us all.

Individuals, communities, commercial institutions, and public sectors establishments are part of it. Everyone should assume their responsibilities in keeping our country clean and preserving its aesthetic qualities,” said Shaikh Mohammed.

Why are abandoned vehicles a problem?

Ageing vehicles don’t always need to be on the road to become an environmental hazard.

As in no time, these vehicles will have their batteries, tyres, paint, and other components start decaying and releasing hazardous chemicals into the environment.

The coolant and other liquids left in them will start seeping into the groundwater and contaminating them.

Not to mention the acids in car batteries and engine oils. They might leak as the vehicle deteriorates over time, causing more harm to the environment.

What can we do about it?

Experts say a lot. If you are an owner of an end-of-life vehicle, think about the harm it could cause to the environment before abandoning or disposing of it haphazardly. The car might be old, but there might be parts that could still get some value for it. Approach authorities and dispose of it in an eco-friendly way.