Bahraini.TV

‘We’ll fight to rescue park’

by mahmood on 11/06/09 at 11:32 am · email  · print  

Central Municipal councillors yesterday pledged to stand their ground and continue battling against plans to build a private university in Salmabad on a land originally allocated for a public park.

They pledged to reject the project should it be presented to them because the sell-off had never been discussed with them.

The land, estimated to cover an area of 600,000sqm, is the only government-owned land left in the area, according to area councillor Adel Al Sitri.

“Residents were hoping this land will be turned into a public park as planned,” he said.

“The land is the only government-owned land in Salmabad and they want it to serve them not investors.”

Mr Al Sitri was speaking at the Central Municipal Council, which held its regular meeting at its headquarters in Isa Town.

He presented a petition to councillors signed by more than 1,000 residents urging the council to intervene.

The move came after residents were shocked to find that 60 per cent of the land had been given to investors.

“Residents were hoping part of this land would be earmarked for a housing project or a health club,” said Mr Al Sitri.

“We didn’t even know this land was given to the investor, we read it in the newspaper.”

The university, reportedly known as the European University, should be located near the AMA University, said Mr Al Sitri.

“That would be a more suitable location, leave Hurat A’ali to residents,” he said.

Meanwhile, council chairman Abdulrahman Al Hassan stressed that Municipalities and Agriculture Minister Dr Juma Al Ka’abi had confirmed to him during an earlier meeting that the land would be earmarked for a public park.

“We were never officially approached or informed about this project,” he said.

“It is one of our duties to know what projects are earmarked in the area and whether we agree or not.”

The GDN reported yesterday that Salmabad residents were up in arms after plans for the private university emerged.

The land was due to be turned into a recreation area following the directives of Dr Juma Al Ka’abi last year.

It was also to feature a farm for producing animal feed.

Councillors earlier said that they would reject the university project, because the area was not suitable for a university as it was already heavily populated.