13 October 2009
KUWAIT: A public committee that is calling for the removal of the Mishref sewage treatment station said intended to file a lawsuit today that will demand an immediate halt to the facility's activities. The group claims that the facility poses a serious threat to public health. The committee issued their announcement during a press conference at the Kuwait Journalists Association yesterday. "The station is a real threat to thousands of residents in Bayan, Mishref, Sabah Al-Salem and Salwa," the committee said in a statement.
The press conference discussed further steps to be taken in this regard. Abdulla Bin Sabet, a member of the committee, went through the steps taken by the committee since the establishment of the station in 1997. A court, however, refused the case which was presented to change the location of the station because the station met international standards for health and safety.
Recently, Bin Sabet added, "A group of citizens sent a letter to HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Muhammad on September 14, 2009 after the stoppage of the station and they sent similar letters to House Speaker Jassem Al-Khorafi.
These letters demanded the relocation of the station from its current location and changing its design as well as preventing the leakage of water into the sea because it posed a danger to the marine environment and human health.
They also demanded the formation of an objective committee to investigate the responsible parties.
Eyad Al Mutawa, another member of the committee, clarified the value of the repairs of the project which amounted to KD 40 million, which is almost as much as how much the plant cost to construct in 1997. He added that the value of transferring the station would amount to some KD 70 million.
Ibrahim Behbahani, also a member of the committee, did not welcome the Ministry of Public Works' approval to carry out works since the beginning. He added that there were warnings from Kuwait University in this regard and that the technical committee warned that the works at Mishref Station would cause a disaster.
However, the same committee stressed that there were enough safety measures in place to prevent the leakage of water.
Attorney Sayer Al-Lahu said that the Fatwa and Legislation committee was the main lawyer of the government and that it would present its files and defend it in the case lawsuits were presented.
He added that the Ministry of Public Works was responsible because it did not take the warning of the technical committee and Kuwait University seriously.
However, he assured that there was no political motive behind the committee's campaign but demanded respecting the demands of citizens of the areas surrounding Mishref station.
KUWAIT: A public committee that is calling for the removal of the Mishref sewage treatment station said intended to file a lawsuit today that will demand an immediate halt to the facility's activities. The group claims that the facility poses a serious threat to public health. The committee issued their announcement during a press conference at the Kuwait Journalists Association yesterday. "The station is a real threat to thousands of residents in Bayan, Mishref, Sabah Al-Salem and Salwa," the committee said in a statement.
The press conference discussed further steps to be taken in this regard. Abdulla Bin Sabet, a member of the committee, went through the steps taken by the committee since the establishment of the station in 1997. A court, however, refused the case which was presented to change the location of the station because the station met international standards for health and safety.
Recently, Bin Sabet added, "A group of citizens sent a letter to HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Muhammad on September 14, 2009 after the stoppage of the station and they sent similar letters to House Speaker Jassem Al-Khorafi.
These letters demanded the relocation of the station from its current location and changing its design as well as preventing the leakage of water into the sea because it posed a danger to the marine environment and human health.
They also demanded the formation of an objective committee to investigate the responsible parties.
Eyad Al Mutawa, another member of the committee, clarified the value of the repairs of the project which amounted to KD 40 million, which is almost as much as how much the plant cost to construct in 1997. He added that the value of transferring the station would amount to some KD 70 million.
Ibrahim Behbahani, also a member of the committee, did not welcome the Ministry of Public Works' approval to carry out works since the beginning. He added that there were warnings from Kuwait University in this regard and that the technical committee warned that the works at Mishref Station would cause a disaster.
However, the same committee stressed that there were enough safety measures in place to prevent the leakage of water.
Attorney Sayer Al-Lahu said that the Fatwa and Legislation committee was the main lawyer of the government and that it would present its files and defend it in the case lawsuits were presented.
He added that the Ministry of Public Works was responsible because it did not take the warning of the technical committee and Kuwait University seriously.
However, he assured that there was no political motive behind the committee's campaign but demanded respecting the demands of citizens of the areas surrounding Mishref station.
By Nisreen Zahreddine
© Kuwait Times 2009
