10-storey project stalled

Naila BarakatStaff ReporterThe BAHRAIN Engineering Bureau Consultant office has cried foul over the decision of the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture to halt work on its building due to the rezoning of the area.The Manama Municipality has issued a violation ticket to the owner of BD2 million project, who has a permit to build a 10-storey building, to now restrict it to six-storeys.Khalid Jamsheer, who is developing the project in Umm Al Hassam, said: “In October 2004, a Bahraini investor had come to our office to develop his land in Umm Al Hassam. In August 2004, the ministerial order No. 51 combined the area categories under new investments areas. We were developing the plot over 1,037 square metres. We designed a luxury flats building based on the site in the investment area C which is for 10-storey buildings. We obtained the approval of the Ministry of Electricity and Water, the Roads Directorate, Civil Defence and Aviation, Drainage Section and the zoning department at the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture. We obtained the building permit in December 2005.”He said the upper right hand side of the permit paper says the classification is C. But in July 2005, the law No. 27 confirmed the building regulations for the new investment areas. The Cabinet also approved new regulations for the investment area ‘D’ which limits 10-storey buildings to six. According to area zoning, the plot is now in the investment C area which means 10-storeys. “The tender was awarded to class A contractor, Al Ghanah Construction. The piling work started. And then a municipality official served the violation notice, asking us to stop the work immediately,” Jamsheer said.“A municipality inspector also visited us and warned that if the construction continued, then the matter would be taken to police. He also asked us to attend a meeting in office of inspections on February 12 at 9am. During the discussion we learnt that the Manama Municipal Council had asked to stop the work and reduce the building height from 10 floors to six, but did not provide any reason.” He said the council also wrote to the minister, Ali Al Saleh, to issue order to stop the construction. “The council has also taken action to reclassify the area from C to D investment area which means that the land which was on sale for BD40 per square feet is now worth less than BD20 to BD15. We reject the decision. Who will compensate for the project and those who have bought land?” he said Council secretary Jassim Redha said Clause No. 21 of the Municipal Act No. 35 for 2001 empowered the council to review permits. “We have ordered the work stopped for one month because the area had been changed due to zoning. Jamsheer had a permit on the previous zoning map. We think that if this building is constructed then it will be the only one with 11 floors among in the area where only a maximum of six-floors is allowed. “We think they might ask for compensation and the ministry should think about it. We want to support all investors deal with them as partners under the guidelines issued by the minister. The temporary halt is to study the case due to the rezoning of the areas. We will have a special session on Tuesday to take a decision.”