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Ajman in grip of pollution

AJMAN — Emission from vehicles and dust raised by movement of light and heavy vehicles on unpaved roads in several commercial and residential areas in Ajman have taken pollution to a high, posing a threat to public health and environment.

The dust thrown up by school buses using unpaved roads in Al Jurf area have caused eye irritation, chest allergies and several other ailments among children.

Abdulkareem Ahmed, a school bus driver, said: “There are no alternative roads, so we have to use these unpaved roads to reach school on time. These roads need to be paved as soon as possible as they are considered to be part of important road network in the emirate being used by school buses and cars on daily basis.”

Mohammed Abdul Gafar, a resident of Al Ahmadiya, said the dust had affected both public health and environment. Tons of dust from these unpaved roads cause health problems specially when it combines with other air pollutants. Infants, the elderly and people with respiratory problems like asthma or bronchitis are more likely to be affected. “Besides causing additional cleaning of homes and vehicles, dust can cause low visibility on these unpaved roads,” he said.

Says Mulhim Khalfan: “One car making one pass daily on a mile of untreated and unpaved road can generate a ton of dust a year. The municipality should work out a solution to this problem as soon as passible.”

Khalifa Yousif, an engineer residing in Al Nuaimiya district, said that unpaved roads are associated with rural and remote areas, but in fact, they are not just a rural phenomenon. Unpaved streets are common in Ajman, and unpaved alleys are found in every part of the emirate. This untreated, unpaved and damaged roads affect the image of the beautiful city. “Just as the Corniche road is under the municipality’s care, these roads also deserve the same attention.”

Speaking to Khaleej Times Ali Al Hamrani, Director-General of Ajman Municipality, said the Emirate of Ajman had witnessed improvement and development in road network in recent years.

He said the Municipality had launched strategic plans to develop many areas in the emirate and had carried out projects to pave and expand roads to solve not only the dust problems, but also traffic congestion in some parts of the emirate.

The Municipality was aware of the problems and was making all efforts to address them as soon as possible, he said, adding that the roads project plan was being implemented in various parts of the emirate. By the end of 2005, all the projects will be completed and all roads would well be treated and expanded.

Al Hamrani pointed out that the Municipality had accomplished the first stage of road construction, treatment and maintenance project in Al Jarf area. It was working towards completing the second stage of such roads besides taking up new ones covering 60 km. It had also completed the maintenance work of the Shaikh Zayed Road in the centre of the city and improvement of the car parking lots on both sides of the same road, he said.

Speaking about the housing planning programme, Al Hamrani said the Municipality was also working on improving the plans of many residential areas including Al Bustan and Al Nuaimia districts, where many old houses were demolished and roads expanded and paved.

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