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Residents open shops in homesNov 11, 2011 (Gulf Daily News - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- A GROUP of Hamad Town residents have opted to open shops in their homes to meet neighbours' demands. Cold store items and other necessities are being sold after the Housing Ministry turned down investors wishing to open businesses in the area. The Northern Municipal Council is not planning to take action against the residents who have opened unauthorised shops, despite violations to Health Ministry and Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Ministry permits criteria. Councillors told residents they could unofficially open, unless someone in their neighbourhood complains. A number of businessmen had approached the council seeking to open malls, shopping complexes and commercial buildings, but the Housing Ministry strictly told councillors only homes could be built. The ministry's decision comes despite desperate calls by residents for much-needed markets and services. The council had earlier approved a request from residents in May for plots of land to be utilised for more markets and services instead of government housing projects already in the pipeline. Residents are complaining that the town was getting crowded without any consideration for the facilities and services required. Area councillor Jaffar Shaaban told councillors then that he had already found the first plot of land that could accommodate markets and services outlets. The council sent the proposal to the Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Ministry, which backed councillors' plans. It sent the request to the Housing Ministry, which rejected the proposal to allocate the plots of land. "We can't stop much-needed services in Hamad Town, just because they don't follow the country's rules and regulations," said council financial, administrative and legislative committee chairman Jassim Al Mahdi. "The council has strictly told Hamad Town residents that it was against the law to open shops at home, but no action would be recommended by the council against those who decide to do so. "But, if caught by the Health Ministry or the Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Ministry after complaints from others, the council is not responsible for anything that happens." He said Hamad Town's problem was mainly due to the Housing Ministry's refusal to accept the council's proposal to have more businesses open. "The more the ministry delays proper future planning for Hamad Town, the more residents will break the law, and more and more will start opening businesses at their homes, not just cold stores but possibly cafeterias and restaurants." Mr Al Mahdi said Hamad Town was set to see 1,000 new families move into new apartment buildings that were on their way to be complete. "More homes are being built without markets and services being built to meet demand," he said. "Residents are being forced to go either to a shopping centre in roundabout 10, the Waqf Market in roundabout one or visit the Reef Mall in Saddad. "People want to get their services either by walking a short distance or through a short drive and they don't want to travel from one area to another. This can only happen if businesses are allowed to officially open within neighbourhoods." Mr Al Mahdi said the council just wants the Housing Ministry to revise its construction policies of new government homes and focus instead on providing facilities to existing families or those it houses in future. "We know that the town comes completely under the Housing Ministry, but that doesn't mean it should be dedicated to only building homes," said Mr Al Mahdi. "Families are just being stacked there without any proper study to what the place should look like 20 years from now and it is evident that the number of houses is not in line with the services being offered." "There are investors interested in building malls, shopping complexes and commercial buildings and are offering to lease lands from the Housing Ministry. "The Housing Ministry could have kept aside selected plots of land and given them to the Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Ministry to handle without any deed changes, with the revenue being used for housing services." He said the issue would not end until residents' demands are fulfilled. "It is always the duty of the ministries concerned to help solve a problem that has been ongoing for the past 25 years since the town was established," said Mr Al Mahdi. [email protected] ___ (c)2011 the Gulf Daily News (Manama, Bahrain) Visit the Gulf Daily News (Manama, Bahrain) at www.gulf-daily-news.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |