RAK residents breathe easy as asphalt factory is shifted

Ras Al Khaimah - "We wish to breathe pure air. We are fed up of this incessant pollution."

Much to the relief of residents, the Gasidat asphalt plant in Ras Al Khaimah has been moved out of the residential area to Seeh Al Banah.
Residents of the Gasidat area had on different occasions approached the RAK Municipality to take action and shift the factory, which they said not only caused pollution but also spread a foul smell in the area.
Ashraf Saad, a resident of Gasidat, told Khaleej Times that the asphalt plant and other factories made life difficult for them. "Though Gasidat is a densely populated area, there are so many factories here. These factories have polluted the air we breathe, resulting in serious health consequences."
Rashid Salem, another resident, said they had approached the RAK Municipality to shift the asphalt factory. "It is an asphalt factory. Do I need to say anything else? It produces heavy pollutants."
Mohammed Swaihani, another resident, said: "We wish to breathe pure air. We are fed up of this incessant pollution."
Dr Rashid Abdullah Al Nuaimi, executive director of the Nuaimi Group, said the company decided to move the asphalt factory after complaints from residents about air and noise pollution.
"The factory, however, strictly adhered to the conditions set by the Ministry of Environment and Water, and the Environment Protection and Development Authority - RAK."
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE
• Ras Al Khaimah