Al Ain demolishes 175 building as part of city improvements

AL AIN // One hundred and seventy-five buildings have been demolished in Al Ain in the past two years as part of efforts to improve the city's image.

The municipality also issued citations regarding several buildings in breach of regulations.

A technical team was formed to supervise and follow up the removal of the buildings. Many old buildings are in disrepair and threaten residents' safety.

Properties breaching regulations include deserted buildings and factories found to be polluting the environment.

According to municipality records, 56 buildings breached the city image, 24 for using pavements for parking, and five had random construction outside the premises.

The regions where buildings were demolished include Al Fuqaa, Sweihan, Al Arad, Zakhir, Merkhaniyah, Al Yahr, Salamat, Maqaam and Al Hili.

Matab S Al Shamsi, head of the building removal committee at the municipality, said a special inspectors' team was formed from the building permits and health departments, who carried out awareness campaigns and distributed leaflets in buildings with breaches.

The municipality said these structures conveyed a negative image of the city.

Owners of the buildings were served notice as required by law. The municipality urged all parties to respond positively to its call to uplift the image of the city and avoid deserting establishments, defacing the city image and polluting the environment.

anwar@thenational.ae