UAE | General
Bachelors 'a menace to peaceful Mussalla area of Bur Dubai'
Residents who live in community number 311-12c Street in the Mussalla area of Bur Dubai have said the once peaceful street is now filled with bachelors who have made it impossible for them, especially women to venture out, even in daylight.
- By Sunita Menon, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:00 April 29, 2008
- Image Credit: Supplied Picture
- Residents say rooftop accommodation has sprung up and the area has become very dirty since the bachelors arrived.
Dubai: Residents who live in community number 311-12c Street in the Mussalla area of Bur Dubai have said the once peaceful street is now filled with bachelors who have made it impossible for them, especially women to venture out, even in daylight.
They have also complained that extra rooms have been made with asbestos roofing to accommodate bachelors on rooftops.
Gulf News visited the street and spoke to families as well as bachelors. The families were furious and wanted the civic body to make the bachelors move out of the buildings, but the bachelors defended their right to stay.
A senior official from Dubai municipality inspection section said if the bachelors were proving a nuisance in areas where families resided, the civic body would follow up the case.
Omar Mohammad Abdur Rehman, head of the Buildings Inspection Section at Dubai Municipality said: "We are very strict. In villas only one family can live but there have been instances where we have come across 20 people living in a villa. This is not allowed.
"Even in apartments there are certain rules that the landlord and tenants have to follow. For example each apartment should not have people living in cramped conditions; it is not allowed to build temporary asbestos covered rooms on the terrace."
Rehman said that the civic body reacts to a complaint filed by residents in 24 to 48 hours.
"Our inspectors will visit the area and establish the credibility of the complaint. Violators are served with a week's notice to vacate the building followed by a second notice if they fail to follow the first one. If that also fails a letter is issued to Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) to disconnect the electricity and water supply."
A resident who lives opposite an apartment occupied by bachelors said: "There are three residential buildings converted into bachelor accommodation. It has become very difficult for our families to move around these areas, especially children and women.
"We have also noticed that the rooftops have been converted into rooms with asbestos sheeting covering the top. They make the area very dirty with cigarettes, spitting on the walls, and cycles parked almost to capacity.
"Now for the past two days the drains have been overflowing with dirty water with loads of cigarette butts coming from them and it smells awful."
He said he had posted a complaint on Dubai Municipality's website and is awaiting a reply.
"The bachelors make lewd remarks to women whenever they come across them or even young girls on the streets," said another resident.
Action: Call to object
Residents can make their complaints on a 24-hour hotline 800900 or at the ecomplain system on www.dm.gov.ae
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