NCC demands problems of Khalifa cities be tackled

The National Consultative Council (NCC) yesterday expressed concern over lack of facilities in Abu Dhabi's Khalifa 'A' and Khalifa 'B' cities, and called on the local authorities to address the problems of the residents.

The issue was raised in a meeting yesterday chaired by Abdullah Mohammed Al Masoud.

The collective motion by council members drew the attention of local authorities to the fact that residents of the cities are facing problems due to lack of infrastructure, which puts pressure on downtown Abu Dhabi.

Due to lack of commercial centres, schools, parks and medical centres, residents are forced to head towards downtown, putting extra pressure on the city, especially traffic.

"The two new cities of Khalifa 'A' and Khalifa 'B' were built under a strategic project to avoid congestion in downtown Abu Dhabi city and its suburbs, which are expanding due to population growth," the members said.

Though the cities were built with huge housing schemes and residential buildings to reduce pressure on the city, residents do not prefer to live there.

"To make life easy and fulfil the needs of the new and old residents, including UAE nationals, new projects have to be taken up in the two cities to discourage them from moving back to downtown Abu Dhabi."

The members urged construction of more department stores, shopping malls, public places and parks, schools, health centres and hospitals. They urged local authorities to encourage further private sector investment on entertainment projects and shopping malls.

After the debate, the speaker referred the issue to the committee concerned for discussion with local authorities and to report back.

Another issue discussed was the employment of people with special needs after completing specialised training courses in Al Ain.

It was raised in another motion tabled by the members. They expressed concern that very few people with special needs are being employed by public and private sectors after successful completion of specialised training courses.

Members regretted that the government has established enough training centres in Al Ain for the handicapped to train them, but little has been done for their employment.

Special centres including the one set up by the Interior Ministry are successfully operating and training a large number of physically handicapped.

"We have lots of physically handicapped people who have graduated from specialised training centres waiting to be employed, but they find it very difficult to get jobs," members said in their joint motion.

One member said negotiations should be held with the private and government sector establishments to reserve some jobs for these people.

Member Mohammed Rashid Al Nassiri said: "They can easily be provided jobs as clerks and telephone operators, or even receptionists, with the kind of skills they gain in these centres."

They called for a further debate on the issue at the council and discussion with various organisations and authorities.

After concluding the debate, the speaker referred the issue to a house committee to look into the matter and prepare a report after talks with the authorities involved.

The council also reviewed a report on the development projects in Abu Dhabi's Eastern Region prepared by the Eastern Region Affairs Committee.

Comprehensive talks were held with the authorities concerned including the Department of Agriculture and Animal Wealth in Al Ain.

They discussed technical support for the agricultural sector with the authorities asking them to improve the irrigation system and take care of other technical needs of the farms owned by nationals in the region.

They also discussed department services and plans for the local farms, and irrigation problems in some of the farms. Development of animal wealth and prevention of diseases in animals were also discussed.

The council also advised the authorities concerned to review their prices and procedures for purchasing dates from local farms, which is in place under the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan to encourage local farmers to increase the production of the indigenous fruit.

According to the report, the committee decided to hold more meetings with the departments and authorities concerned to discuss development projects of the Eastern Region.

After reviewing the report, the house gave its unanimous support to the committee proposals and agreed to discuss the issue in the forthcoming council meetings.