RAK industries in residential areas asked to relocate

RAK industries in residential areas asked to relocate

Sebugwaawo Ismail

28 July 2010, RAS AL KHAIMAH — The department of civil defence in Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) has asked owners of workshops located in residential neighbourhoods to relocate them to other areas because they pose a threat to people’s safety especially if fire breaks out.

Lt. Col. Ali Al Mahboub, acting chief of RAK Civil Defence said the department has found that many workshops were established in residential areas 
especially in the Jolan and Ma’aridh areas of RAK and some of them do not meet the minimum safety requirements which could help in the prevention and spread of fire.

“If fire breaks out in these workshops, it can easily spread to the neighbouring homes which is very dangerous. 
Owners of these workshops should move them from residential neighbourhoods and be relocated to the industrial areas so as to protect the residents,” said Al Mahboub.

The official said that workshops and garages must be established in the areas designated for industrial or mechanical activities and not near people’s homes because the chances of fire breaking out in these establishments are 
higher because of the nature of their work in addition to operating daily using too much power.

Besides threatening the people’s safety, scores of residents have complained that they are inconvenienced by the workshops located in their neighbourhoods as they produce awkward noises.

Mohammed Ali Al Habsi, an Emirati resident of Jolan said they have sleepless nights due to the workshops which operate day and night. “A lot of noise is made by these establishments especially the metal workshops located near our homes. These workshops also have some negative impacts to the environment and should be moved to the industrial areas,” said Al Habsi.

Another resident of RAK, MG Nair told Khaleej Times that one workshop dealing in advertisement materials and situated in the Zaki Saqr residential building in RAK makes a lot of noise especially during the working hours.

“We cannot listen to the radio or hear the television due to the noise created by the workshops located just next to our house. My children cannot even study,” said Nair.

Nair said they complained to their landlord about the inconveniences caused by this workshop but nothing has been done.

“On a number of occasions, we reported this workshop to the municipal officials through telephone calls but so far nothing has been done to rectify the situation because this establishment situated on a residential building is still a menace to us,” said Nair.

The residents even wonder how such an establishment obtained a licence to operate from a residential building.

According to DED, the number of 
registered workshops in Ras Al Khaimah has reached 956, including 203 
garages, 407 for metal works and 346 carpentry shops.

ismail@khaleejtimes.com