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Jumeirah Beach residents worry over air pollution
DUBAI - Residents in the Jumeirah Beach Area are increasingly complaining about the amount of air pollution caused by the numerous construction sites mushrooming in the area. These, they say, have led to some serious health problems for some, and inconvenience for others.
"Since I work in this area I have to see the unpleasant site of heavy trucks moving construction goods back and forth everyday. Not only does this decrease the scenic beauty of the place but a lot of dust rises in the air which may be hazardous to one's health," said Vibhu Kapoor, a sales executive.
Apart from the construction sites, some residents feel that the cause of the pollution is a neighbouring concrete factory where cement is mixed with other raw materials which, they say, results in the dusty environment.
Sean Evers, a resident of the area, said that the constant dust led his one-year old son to suffer from a chronic runny nose. "I was aware that when we moved into the area we would be dealing with a certain amount of a construction environment. But, whenever I open my windows, I invariably get a lot of cement dust into the house which is extremely hazardous for my son's health," he said.
Officials, however, say that the dust blowing in the area is not due to the cement itself, but due to a combination of other factors such as the heavy traffic flow on the Shaikh Zayed Road and the sand, which surrounds the area.
Replying to a question on the complaints from residents, Redha Hassan Salman, Head of the Environment Protection and Safety Section (EPSS) at Dubai Municipality's Environment Department, said that the civic body investigated the impact of and assessed the situation around the factory as well as the residential areas in its vicinity.
"The complaints specifically against the concrete factory as being the source of the pollution is an exaggeration. There are a number of major construction sites in that area and the movement of heavy vehicles causes a dusty environment," Mr Redha Hassan Salman said.
He, however, said that the section had penalised the factory earlier for problems related to some filters. But inspections of the unit since have shown that the specified measures have been taken by the factory to ensure a cleaner environment, Mr Salman said.
Not concerned with health issues, some residents feel that the construction sites and the factory should be moved for aesthetic reasons.
Said Edmund O'Sullivan, a resident: "I'm very delighted to be a resident in this area which has become a magnificent showcase for what has been achieved in Dubai. From an aesthetic point of view, however, the attraction of this fantastic place would be enhanced if steps were taken to reduce the pollution level which may be caused by the various construction sites and the factory."
Precautions such as erecting a fence around the premises, a three metre wire mesh being set up to avoid the dust from blowing in the wind, flooring to avoid trucks from blowing sand present on the floor and sweeping the ground continuously have been implemented by the factory to avoid getting the dust anywhere near the residential areas.
"This," says Adil Taybah, an engineer at the factory, "might seem like a drop in the ocean but we are continuously striving to make things better for the residents."
Some hotels around the area have also taken up the issue of the concrete factory with the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM).
An official from the DTCM said that the issue concerning the concrete factory in the area has been brought to the attention of the department and that it has already forwarded the matter to the government authorities.
The DTCM, he said, holds on a regular basis, hotel and hotel apartment group meetings where key industry issues and concerns are discussed.
The group co-coordinators for various hotel categories present their reports highlighting the concerns and issues of the hotel establishments in Dubai. Appropriate action is carried out as a result of recommendations brought forth during these meetings.
Some people suggest that the only way to reduce the pollution currently plaguing the area is by reducing the number of construction sites and by paving the sandy roads.
"We all do understand that some amount of construction work will be carried out in this area but at least the process can be speeded up a bit to reduce the inconvenience of the residents. "Another idea would be to pave the sandy roads and create alternative access routes for the construction sites away from the residential areas.
"This will ensure that the amount of dust created through the movement of the trucks will be reduced," said Mr Kapoor.
Hotels too...
Some hotels around the Jumeirah Beach area have also taken up the issue of the concrete factory with the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM).
An official from the DTCM said that the issue concerning the concrete factory in the area has been brought to the attention of the department and that it has already forwarded the matter to the government authorities.
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