Sharjah: The Sharjah municipality issued a circular on Tuesday stepping up its campaign against tenants who misuse their balconies.
"Residents in buildings have to be reminded that it is not allowed to install satellite dishes in their balconies, and they should also not use it as a storage room or have it closed off with nets," Sultan Al Mua'alem, director-general of Sharjah Municipality, said.
The circular was distributed as part of the municipality's efforts to enhance the city's appearance.
Al Mua'alem said pamphlets in four different languages — Arabic, English, Farsi and Urdu — have already been distributed in residential buildings. He said residents found flouting the rules will be fined Dh250, to be paid within a week. Tenants failing to make the payment within the stipulated period will face a penalty of Dh500.
The pamphlet also states that residents should call the municipality hotline 993 if they have any queries about the rules. Residents, however, were left fuming by the municipality's drive.
"I think the authorities should not have a say in this matter, unless they provide each household with a free drier and electricity," said one.
"Talking about beautification, there are lots of important things other than hanging clothes on balconies. If you go inside the industrial areas, there are practically no roads where we can drive on... I think authorities should pay more attention to these things rather than such petty things as clothes hung on balconies or dish antennas on windows," said Anjana, an Indian resident.
Parents also expressed displeasure with rules that disallow the installation of nets or safety grills unless prior permission is obtained from the technical department at Sharjah Municipality. "I have seen grills in balconies in various countries and thin grills that are enough to make them child-proof, do not affect aesthetics," said another irked resident.
