By MOHAMMED AL A’ALI
OVERFLOWING human waste from a labour camp is causing sickness among children living in the area, it was claimed yesterday.
Residents are now calling for the eviction of more than 200 workers who live there.
They are demanding their immediate relocation and say the smell from the camp, in East Eker, is making life unbearable.
A petition calling for action has now been submitted to the Central Municipal Council, which blamed the problem on the absence of a sewage network.
Area councillor and council technical committee chairman Radhi Amman is now hoping to revoke a licence that allows the building to be used as a labour camp.
By MOHAMMED AL A’ALI
OVERFLOWING human waste from a labour camp is causing sickness among children living in the area, it was claimed yesterday.
Residents are now calling for the eviction of more than 200 workers who live there.
They are demanding their immediate relocation and say the smell from the camp, in East Eker, is making life unbearable.
A petition calling for action has now been submitted to the Central Municipal Council, which blamed the problem on the absence of a sewage network.
Area councillor and council technical committee chairman Radhi Amman is now hoping to revoke a licence that allows the building to be used as a labour camp.
“The problem is continuing without a real solution,” he said.
“The person renting out the house for his labourers does not want to spend money on draining the manhole daily – it costs a lot.
“There is no sewage network and sewage is leaking into the street and nearby homes, something that no one can bear.
“The stench is getting into homes through air-conditioners, windows and even doors – basically people can’t breathe clean air.
“Families can’t wait any longer – some have said that their children are getting sick from the daily inhalation and unless the camp is removed, their misery will continue and sickness will increase.”
Mr Amman said the Central Municipality had been asked to investigate whether the house owner was licensed to house labourers or not.
“If not, then they should be evicted by the police,” he added.
“If the owner has a permit, then it should be cancelled and the labourers moved out soon.
“We are not asking, we are demanding.”
He argued that people were entitled to live in a clean environment.
“The place is catastrophic and I challenge anyone to walk from the area’s entrance until its end without vomiting or getting sick,” he said.
“I don’t want things to become ugly with residents resorting to violence against labourers. This will not solve the problem – it will only escalate it. “The government bodies concerned should act fast to ensure that peace and calm returns and people live peacefully, breathing clean air.
alaali@gdn.com.bh
