Residential complex takes offence at gardens

Dubai: Green-fingered residents in The Gardens were shocked to receive a memo recently from the property management asking them to destroy their outdoor plants and gardens, calling them 'modifications' and 'illegal'.

Dozens of tenants have now had to uproot their small green areas planted outside their own properties and around balconies for fear of legal action, as stated in the letter sent to residents on December 11 from customer services.

"We hereby request you to abide by Leasing and Property Management rules and regulations in your best interest therefore kindly arrange for reinstating such works to the original design of the building ... to avoid any further action that could be taken by our administration" read the memo.

A resident said there are landscaped gardens in the residential area however some patches around his home have remained empty and barren. "This happens to be near the bedroom. It's open and sandy and usually covered in dry leaves. Nobody walks in this area either," he said.

As the letter gave the residents two and half days before further action be taken, the resident had no other choice but to remove the plants.

Beautification

"Some of us have opted to do something of our own with small potted plants in front of balconies. I have spent some time doing this, and it's nothing exotic either. Just the plants on sale here in the nurseries," said the resident.

"It is very strange. People are voluntarily trying to green the place and make it more environmentally inviting - I thought it was serving the public," he said.

When Gulf News tried to contact the senior customer services executive of The Gardens, no comment was available.