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Move to relocate factories from residential areas

A senior official of the Department of Economic Development (DED), who did not want to be named, said this when this reporter asked him about a similar demand raised by the Environmental Protection and Development Agency (EPDA) in the emirate.

As many as 588 industrial establishments, including factories, workshops and garages, are located in non-industrial zones or near residential areas in the emirate, according to the department records.

These units may be relocated to industrial areas in Jazeera Al Hamra, Khor Khoir and Sha’am and owners of the units have been made aware of the move. He said they are coordinating with the municipality and the EPDA to chalk out steps in this regard.

However, Mohammed Saqr Al Asam, Director-General of the RAK Municipality, said many of these workshops and factories in residential areas had acquired licences long time ago, before many residents settled there. It is not easy to relocate them immediately or stop their operations as many need to be given ample time to prepare, he said.

Earlier, the EPDA urged the authorities concerned in the emirate to stop issuing licences to factories, industries and workshops operating near residential areas.

It said activities in factories and other industrial establishments located near people’s houses create large amounts of wastes and emit gases polluting the air and environment. Residents have, on many occasions, also complained that these factories cause noise pollution and long-term damage to their houses. Dr Seif Al Ghais, Executive Director of EPDA, said the DED and other departments concerned should stop issuing new licences or renewing old ones of all factories, workshops and other industrial establishments located in or near residential areas to reduce environmental pollution and prevent health hazards.

“The EPDA has carried out several awareness campaigns on environmental protection among owners of units near residential areas, including the need to comply with the required regulations to avoid air pollution and to protect and preserve the environment, but many of them have not cooperated.”

Residents in areas like Ma’aridh, Julfar and Jolan have complained that workshops and factories located in their neighbourhoods create a lot of noise and litter the streets with wastes, causing inconvenience to them.

Mohammed Idris, an Emirati living in Ma’aridh, said that it is not proper for workshops to be located near people’s homes because of the nature of their operations.

“Carpentry workshops which are found near our houses create noise throughout the day, inconveniencing families. People and their children can hardly sleep or rest, especially during the day,” he said.

Another resident, Ali Hassan, said workshops in his neighbourhood are making the place dirty and create a lot of dust which sometimes pollute the air, thereby posing threats to their health.

Some residents near the mountainous areas, including Showka and Al Rahba complained of the health problems they suffer due to the activities in quarries.

ismail@khaleejtimes.com

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