Key projects’ probe affirms environment law adherence

TDT | Manama           

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Staff Reporter

The Environment and Work Ministries jointly carried out an inspection into BD7.2 million projects that are being implemented with an aim to ensure strict adherence to environmental laws in the Kingdom. The Ma’ameer Canal Expansion Project, south of Tubli Bay, the project to develop and expand the Ma’ameer waterway crossing located beneath Shaikh Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah Street, and the project to expand and develop the sea bridge, located south of the Ma’ameer Canal, are all in the works.

According to the ministry, the project aims to improve the environmental situation in Tubli Bay by increasing the flow of water. Scope of work includes the expansion of the Ma’ameer Canal with a length of 750m and a width of 180m, in addition to digging the canal to a depth of two metres.

The project will result in the improvement of the flow of water from the south side, and the expansion works will increase the flow of water to Tubli Bay and improve the water quality. Dr Mohammed bin Daina, the Minister of Oil and Environment, stated that “Tubli Bay area is one of the most important areas to the government because of its strategic location on the map of natural reserves.

And it also helps the kingdom’s efforts to preserve the ecological milieu and biodiversity”. The three major projects are part of the government’s plan to achieve sustainability and guarantee a healthy and better environment in compliance with international standards and specifications, according to Ibrahim Al Hawaj, Minister of Work. The first project, which involved widening the Ma’ameer Canal South of Tubli Bay was finished last December. It was reviewed by the two ministers during their visit.

Expansion projects speed up the process of water renewal within the bay while increasing the water flow into Tubli Bay and improving water quality, say Works Ministry sources. The other two projects were as well reviewed by the ministers and the accompanying official teams.

According to Article Six of the Kingdom’s Environmental Law, It shall not be permitted for any person or project to use the environment in any environment polluting activity, contributing to its deterioration activity, causing damage to the natural resources, living beings, breach, prevent the utilisation, use and the proper and reasonable exploitation of the environment.