June 8th, 2009 @ kadraoui // No Comments
Bahrain is drawing up “green” blueprint for its city and urban developments. The National Planning Development Strategy aims to ensure decent housing for all, provide harmony between economic development and proper use of land, in addition to providing modern infrastructure. “This national strategy meets the demands of sustained urban development including the protection of national resources,” said Municipalities and Agriculture Minister Dr Juma Ahmed Al Ka’abi.
“It provides the necessary infrastructure for public transportation and safeguards cultural heritage in historic areas and villages across Bahrain.
“The strategic plan aims at helping the government face future challenges regarding urban development and this galloping demographic boom.” Dr Al Ka’abi said the national strategy had been launched and challenges such as the environment, marine environment, energy, transportation, infrastructure, planning, heritage and sustainability had been considered. He said a committee for the implementation of the strategy had been formed and consisted of concerned authorities, non-governmental organisations, as well as a consultant which would be decided soon. “At this stage, we are trying to do detailed planning with all the authorities concerned and we are in the final stages,” the minister told the GDN.
“We have an environment strategy and we are working hard on the action plan of this and we hope to conduct it in stages.
“We have lots of challenges such as with factories and we have plans to minimise emissions, also the infiltration of industrial areas with residential areas is a challenge.
“We have to consider there are 420,000 cars on the road and we need to develop a strategy to cope with this number of cars and how to protect the heritage, culture and sustainability.” He said there was a plan to introduce a building code to minimize electricity and water consumption and this would be included in a new building law which was currently under review. He added that local multipurpose community centres would be constructed to ensure the proper use of land and preserve traditional Bahrain life.
Dr Al Ka’abi said the ministry had already started to implement aims of the strategy, which included building parks in each governorate, developing corniches and green areas, as well as beautifying VIP highways. He was speaking at the launch of the Arabic version of the UN Habitat’s State of the World Cities Report 2008/2009: Harmonious Cities which took place at Gudaibiya Palace yesterday. Housing Minister Shaikh Ibrahim bin Khalifa bin Ali Al Khalifa highlighted Bahrain’s effort to ensure decent housing for all citizens. He said His Majesty King Hamad’s Scheme for dilapidated houses for low-income and needy families was an unprecedented and pioneering project in the region. Bahrain’s efforts to improve sustained urban development had been recognised by the UN and Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa had been awarded the UN Habitat’s Scroll of Honour award, he added. UN Habitat under-secretary general and executive director Anna Tibaijuka said it had been possible to produce the report in Arabic for the first time because of the help and support of Bahrain’s leadership. She said it was launched in Bahrain in recognition of the great progress it had made for itself and the international community and because the country was considered to be the best performing one. UN Habitat’s State of the World Cities Report 2008/2009: Harmonious Cities Report editor Rasna Warah said the report did not have any specific statistics for Bahrain because those details had not been submitted to the UN.
becky@gdn.com.bh