Shift hits workshop owners

AJMAN - Workshop owners who were ordered by the Ajman Municipality to relocate from the old industrial area to the new industrial zone here have complained that they would lose out on their customers.

by

Afkar Ali Ahmed

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Published: Fri 10 Sep 2004, 11:03 AM

Last updated: Thu 2 Apr 2015, 2:46 PM

Most of these workshops include auto repairs, boat maintenance, carpentry, ironsmiths and brick-factories.

Mohamed. A., owner of a car-polishing workshop, said: “ While I admit to liking the new location, my worry is that most of my existing customers are not aware that the workshop has shifted to a new location and would go elsewhere for the same service.”

Speaking to Khaleej Times Yahya Ebrahem Al Reyaysa, Head of the Licence Department of Ajman Municipality, said that as part of Ajman’s development projects, the section had issued notices to the owners of the workshops ordering them to shift their business to specified location in the new industrial zone.

Many of these owners have already abided by the order that was served on them and shifted their workshops. However, some of them have postponed their relocation indefinitely.

Mr Al Reyaysa said that the new industrial area was well designed keeping in mind all kinds of services - it has cafes, food canteens and mosques.

The new location of the workshops can be easily accessed and is also well supported by large parking lots that will be able to accommodate customers, employees and visitors.

Mr Al Reyaysa said that the municipality had taken the decision to move these workshops to the new location as the old one had gradually expanded reaching the middle of the residential area with the residents in the area complaining about the constant noise pollution they had to suffer.

The large numbers of cars standing for repair and maintenance blocked the main roads of the residential areas, with the residents, particularly women, not being able to walk around due to the mess created by these workshops.

The workshops also created a large quantity of trash and waste that kept the area dirty and unclaimed.

Around 60 per cent of violations relating to cleaning and general cleanliness in Ajman were found in the old industrial zone, according to a quarterly report compiled by the Cleaning Section of Ajman Municipality.

Mr Al Reyaysa pointed out that the municipality is committed to improving general cleanliness in the emirate by launching regular clean-up campaigns, which would target not only public places but also residential, industrial and commercial areas. “This initiative will contribute to enhancing the infrastructure in Ajman and help it keep pace with the rapid development taking place,” Mr Al Reyaysa noted.


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