Three major sites in Askar could be relocated to allow several pending urban development projects to go ahead, it has emerged.
A scrapyard, landfill and a stone quarry are close to residential areas in Askar and the new Khalifa Town.
Quarry
Area MP Mohammed Al Sissi and Southern Municipal Council chairman and area councillor Bader Al Tamimi are planning to sit with all ministries, government bodies and companies concerned to come up with alternative locations.
The GDN reported in February 2018 that more than three million barrels of oil had been discovered onshore, near Askar, but exploration is being hindered by around 100 sprawling scrapyards that cover the site.
It was also reported in October 2018 that the quarry area had been repeatedly targeted in a spate of overnight raids by thieves who hauled away stone by the truckloads; the quarry resumed operations in 2015 after being shut down for eight years.
Urbaser Bahrain, which carries out waste management operations in the Northern and Southern governorates, has been awarded a contract to run the landfill site and set up sorting and recycling facilities as part of a plan to extend the site’s lifespan until 2025.
“What used to be in the middle of nowhere two decades ago is now surrounded by hundreds of homes and more Housing Ministry projects are on the way,” said Mr Al Sissi, who is also Parliament’s foreign affairs, defence and national security committee chairman and National Action Charter bloc president.
“We will soon sit with all the authorities concerned to decide on the best course of action to relocate the three major sites.
“The area has bigger potential, and anyway the time has come to shift into something more eco-friendly.”
The Southern Municipal Council ordered the eviction of the scrapyards in February 2018, after news of the underground oil reserve emerged.
An alternative site has been identified in Hafeera, but the scrapyard owners refused to move, claiming there was limited space and “improper” infrastructure at the new location.
They also pointed out that they had long-term leases.
The council has previously campaigned against the scrapyards over safety and security concerns, claiming they stored volatile substances that could explode if not handled properly.
In September 2016, it was claimed some were being used by “mafias” as cover to deal in illegal weapons, drugs, stolen cars and hazardous chemicals with the place seeing major fires that sometimes took up to a day to extinguish.
“There are around three to four million barrels of oil underground but the fear is that there could be explosions if the site is not cleared of old vehicles, chemicals and other hazardous material,” said Mr Al Tamimi. “The landfill site if cleaned or further pressed could lead to an explosion of methane gas, so it needs careful intervention.
“As for the quarry, it should be far away from homes as there is a lot of dust, and very loud sounds of large explosions and stone-breaking.”
mohammed@gdn.com.bh
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