Public park plan for Bahrain's Karbabad coastline

A popular coastline in the capital could be turned into public property if a proposal submitted by five MPs is approved.

The members of parliament, led by services committee chairman and area MP Mamdooh Al Saleh, want the government to negotiate with the owners to buy their property along the Karbabad coastline which is next to Bahrain Fort, a World Heritage Site.

They then want the place turned into a public park containing a walkway and a permanent jetty for fishermen.

The proposal was yesterday submitted to Parliament chairwoman Fouzia Zainal who referred it to the public utilities and environment affairs committee for review.

“At the moment landowners along the coastline are not able to build on their property due to Unesco restrictions on construction around the fort,” Mr Al Saleh told the GDN.

“Also, the coastline can’t be fenced due to other Unesco requirements, but the place is very popular and used by the public for gathering and recreational and festive purposes.

“The place is also full of food carts and trucks, rides and children’s games, and other services provided by Bahrainis to people going there.

“The only things missing are public facilities such as rest areas, a walkway, toilets, proper roads, lighting and proper allocation of spaces for people who provide various services.”

The GDN reported last week that at least 250 fishermen operating out of the coast have been thrown a lifeline with a temporary makeshift jetty.

They were initially facing eviction from the Karbabad shore, where they had erected illegal cabins that were earmarked for demolition by the Capital Trustees Authority.

In February last year, Mr Al Saleh intervened to stop the bulldozers until an alternative location was found.

The Capital Governorate approved a proposal by the authority to allow 250 professional and amateur fishermen to use another section of the coastline temporarily and legally until a permanent jetty was built for them.

The governorate’s co-ordination council also approved removing all cabins set up illegally on the coastline, which have mushroomed recently.

“Under our proposal, we want land along the coastline to be purchased from private owners by the government and turned into a public park,” said Mr Al Saleh.

mohammed@gdn.com.bh

Disclaimer: The content of this article is syndicated or provided to this website from an external third party provider. We are not responsible for, and do not control, such external websites, entities, applications or media publishers. The body of the text is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis and has not been edited in any way. Neither we nor our affiliates guarantee the accuracy of or endorse the views or opinions expressed in this article. Read our full disclaimer policy here.