More than 1,000 workers living in the area use the mosque for their daily prayers and were looking forward to the start of Ramadan. However, the sewage, stagnant for over a month, has now reached the gate of the nearby mosque forcing workers to stay indoors during the holy month.
“We can't step out due to the stench and fear of catching some disease. All we want to do is to pray during the holy month of Ramadan. We want a clean and healthy environment,” said Imtiaz Khan, a labourer.
The stinking water comes from the overflowing drainage of various camps in the area that collects on the nearby road. Vehicles passing along the road splash the fetid water on to people heading to the mosque forcing them to head home and clean themselves.
“We have to be clean for the prayers and vehicles keep splashing sewage water on us. It's not right that we have to cross this drainage to reach the mosque,” said Ismail Qadir.
The labourers said yesterday that they now fear the water may be the cause for fever and diseases among some of them.
“Dozens of our workers have been taken to the hospital for fever, cold and other diseases. We fear this may be due to the stagnant drainage. Even smelling this makes you feel dizzy sometimes,” said another frustrated worker.
Dubai Municipality officials told 7DAYS yesterday that they were aware of the problem and have fined the companies with camps in the area for the negligence.“We have imposed fines on companies for not clearing their tanks and collecting the sewage. It is the responsibility of the companies to ensure that the tanks are clear and there is no spill,” said a senior official from the waste services section of Dubai Municipality.
Workers, however, claim that despite the fines no one has cleaned up the area yet.
By Praveen Menon
http://www.7days.ae/showstory.php?id=58276
14 September, 2007
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
9 comments:
These guys can never catch a break. I hope it all gets sorted out. :(
Is there anything we can do to help them?
I have no idea. I was thinking of writing to 7Days and asking them if there is a possble way anyone could do anything? [Like donating for example, or writing to the authorities]
They need more than prayer - they need a municipality who's prepared to take action and ensure that the laws are enforced.
Dubai Municipality officials told 7DAYS yesterday that they were aware of the problem and have fined the companies with camps in the area for the negligence.“We have imposed fines on companies for not clearing their tanks and collecting the sewage. It is the responsibility of the companies to ensure that the tanks are clear and there is no spill,” said a senior official from the waste services section of Dubai Municipality.
That says it all. DM will fine them and take their money, but won't oversee that the cleanup actually happens, or that Health and Safety regulations are maintained.
Shame on you, DM, that's disgraceful behaviour.
That is truly a shame especially since it involves a place of worship.
Veiled Muslimah, donation to get the place cleaned up is more like it. Writing to authorities won't make a difference.
Thank you, veiled muslimah, for posting this article. If you can, please update us in the community on what we can do to help them.
I wrote to 7days. Lets just say the response wasn't very hopeful.
Thank you for your interest.
We are not sure if there is a way to help but if there is we will certainly let you know.
Many thanks for your interest,
Yours,
Adam Jankiewicz
News Editor
Veiled Muslimah, this article got a mention in today's raggedy ole' Gulf News.
Hope this mention ups the tempo in getting the place cleaned up.
Kyle, I hope it does. Dubai Municipality has promised "immediate and stringent" action. I hope it goes through and things get cleaned up.
http://www.7days.ae/showstory.php?id=58419
Post a Comment
NOTE: By making a post/comment on this blog you agree that you are solely responsible for its content and that you are up to date on the laws of the country you are posting from and that your post/comment abides by them.
To read the rules click here
If you would like to post content on this blog click here