UAE | Housing & Property
Big jump in number of overcrowded buildings in Naif
Dubai Municipality official seeks tougher measures against illegal reconnection of utilities in Naif area townhouses.
- By Wafa Issa, Staff Reporter
- Published: 22:50 November 8, 2008
- Image Credit: Ahmed Ramzan/Gulf News
- Four bachelors share this narrow living space in Dubai's Naif area; with two of them sleeping on the floor.
Dubai: Overcrowded illegal houses in the Naif area have increased by 25 per cent this year, said a senior Dubai Municipality official.
Omar Abdul Al Rahman, Head of the building inspection department at Dubai Municipality, told Gulf News that overcrowded buildings with illegal extensions in Naif have increased by some 25 per cent bringing the number of violating houses to 203.
"We have intensified our campaigns to crackdown on violators because people's lives are at risk as living in these houses pose a serious fire and health hazard," said Abdul Al Rahman.
The municipality has taken several measures to fight this phenomenon which is not only limited to Naif area in Dubai.
It has enforced penalties such as fines that could reach up to Dh50,000, stop the trade licence of the violator, have their utilities suspended and issue an eviction notices.
"The problem is that we cannot forcefully evict people and our penalties sometimes are not deterrent enough so if violators continue not to cooperate there might be a need to review regulations," said Abdul Al Rahman.
"However, the most efficient measure is to suspend utilities but the problem is that many reconnect the services illegally, he added.
Abdullah Al Hajiri, senior manager for press communication and occupational health at Dubai Water and Electricity Authority (DEWA), said that the practice of illegal reconnection of services is limited to overcrowded houses as it is difficult to pinpoint who actually carried out the offence.
Related Links
Suspension of utilities
Measures taken to curb the overcrowding in houses by Dubai Municipality:
- A notice informing about the violations
- Second warning
- A fine of up to Dh50,000
- Suspension of utilities
- Suspension of the trade licence of the violator
- The Municipality has only the authority to demolish a house if it not suitable for living
Dubai Municipality statistics for third quarter of 2008
- There are 120,000 buildings in Dubai
- There are 1,096 violating buildings across Dubai
- 80 per cent of the violations are illegal extensions
- The number has doubled compared to the same period last year
- 500 houses have had utilities cut for violating rules in the third quarter
- There are 203 illegal buildings in Naif
- It is a 25 per cent increase from last year
More from UAE Housing & Property
More from UAE
Community Reports
-
Mirror, mirror show me the way
Driver on Salam Street had so many boxes and fruits piled into car, he would not be able to view rear or right side mirrors
-
Parents should be more vigilant
Reader's picture highlights risk of negligence by caretakers
-
Warming up to ‘Mobilise the Earth' theme
Dubai school dedicates a whole week to celebrating Earth Day with can-collection drives, sapling plantation and painting competition among others
-
Drivers using mobiles put others' lives at risk
Speeding is dangerous for the driver and other motorists
Latest news
- Sharjah boy tops Indian board's class 12 exams
- Dubai number plates auction raises Dh27m
- Youngsters dance and raise cash for charity
- Dubai departments upgrade services
- Get yourself a free test for diabetes
- Ensuring a safety net for intellectual property
- Reader's issue addressed
- 5,552 illegals held in Dubai this year
- Man cleared because he took drugs in France
- Man charged with trafficking women
- Auditors to probe Mizin graft case
- Breaking down cultural barriers with photographs
- Abu Dhabi Crown Prince visits Islamic centre
- Police's secret source scheme reaps rewards
- Phone Sharjah transfusion centre now toll free
