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Sharjah Civic Body Acts Against Ugly Balconies

The residents were found to have covered balconies using iron or wooden partitions in order to sub-rent them further to other tenants.

Engineer Sultan Abdullah Al Mualla, Director General of Sharjah Municipality has recently urged inspectors to intensify their inspection campaigns at the emirate level, targeting any balcony that is closed using corrugated iron or wood.

“The closure of the balcony for any reason is an explicit violation of municipality regulation and poses a risk to the safety of residents in buildings. It also spoils the view of the city’s landscape,” he said.

He said that municipality will not tolerate violation of the regulations that includes sub-leasing.

Al Mualla explained that municipal regulations take into account the public interest and do not allow the infringement of the ethical rules of Islamic law and Arab culture, the inherent characteristics of the state and especially of the Emirate of Sharjah, stressing that heavy fines will be imposed in case of such violations.

Also, as a part of the campaign, the Municipality has urged the residents of flats in residential buildings not to hang out washed clothes and store discarded objects on their balconies overlooking public streets in the emirate as this would mar the image of the city.

This gives an ugly look to the residential buildings. In the emirate of Sharjah, architectural development is focused on improving and decorating the external facade of the buildings and towers which reflect on aesthetic beauty of the emirate.

The municipality is also making great efforts in spreading awareness among the society about keeping the city clean and green as well as the importance of gardens in maintaining a healthy environment and reducing air pollution and heat.

Official from inspection section at Sharjah Municipality said that the Municipality’s inspectors are patrolling the city, especially residential areas, to ensure cleanliness is maintained and the areas are looking good. The inspectors fine those found to be violating the municipality’s regulations.

Some residents said they are keen to maintain the beauty and cleanliness in the emirate, but claimed that abiding by the new regulation was difficult.

Iman Al Khateeb, a tenant in Abu Shagara, said that she was forced to hang out clothes to dry in the balcony because her drying machine doesn’t function properly. She cannot afford to buy a new machine while her washing machine is still operational.

Lana Wahbi, housewife residing in a building in Al Mussalah area said that sometimes, clothes need to be dried in the sun for killing bacteria and germs. “The dryers are not enough, as several fabrics still need to be dried naturally under the sun,” she said.

afkarali@khaleejtimes.com

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