Advanced technologies to combat rainwater flooding
Bahrain will soon utilise advanced technologies to detect rainwater flooding areas, it was announced yesterday.
Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry Undersecretary Ahmed Al Khayyat stated that “satellite technology will soon be used to detect and provide rainwater drainage services in areas across Bahrain”.
“The ministry will soon implement aerial surveys using satellite technology to quickly respond to rainwater flooding issues in the country,”
Al Khayat said at a press conference after the weekly Cabinet meeting in Gudaibiya Palace. The conference was hosted by Parliament and Information Affairs Minister Isa bin Abdulrahman Al Hammadi and attended by Housing Ministry Assistant Undersecretary for Housing Projects Sami Buhazza.
Several matters that were discussed at the Cabinet meeting were announced during the press conference, highlighting the results of the inquiry ordered by Prime Minister HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa into the recent rainwater flooding issue.
Al Khayat said the ministry launched a project to drain rainwaters with a total cost of BD8.27 million. The project will include three phases that cover 110 rainwater gathering spots in all governorates of the Kingdom. He also stated that the ministry detected 1,050 rainwater gathering points, out of which 350 were solved by using different drainage methods.
Al Khayat noted that “the amount of rainfall we witnessed in four hours this year is equal to what we experience in five days during normal circumstances”.
Speaking about the water-suction tankers, the undersecretary mentioned that the ministry, in coordination with municipal councils, is utilising pre-owned and rented tankers to drain rainwater.
Al Khayat also revealed that the central areas of the country were the most affected by the heavy rainfall, as they’re further from the sea, hence harder to be drained. The undersecretary confirmed cooperation between all official authorities in this regard to ensure the safety of citizens and residents. On heavy flooding observed at some housing projects in different areas, Buhazza explained that seven projects were affected by the floods, confirming that the Housing Ministry has been following an emergency plan during rainy seasons since 2013.
Many of the under- construction projects are not connected to water drainage networks, resulting in the flooding that was witnessed recently. Many rainwater gathering tanks at some projects were either blocked by waste or were utilised for other purposes by the residents.
Photo Caption: Prime Minister HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa presiding over the Cabinet meet
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