Spread of stores in residential neighborhoods is a phenomenon threatening the safety of citizens
By: Bushra Al-Busaidiyah
One of the roles played by Muscat municipality is maintaining public facilities clean and safe. It also works to limit negative phenomena and illegal practices that could occur in Muscat region. One of the negative phenomena that has been observed recently is the spread of commericial warehouses in residential neibourhoods.
Potential risk
Citizens of Muscat began to complain about the presence of commercial stores in their residential neighborhoods as those stores host heavy-duty cars and trucks which do impede traffic within residential neighborhoods. Stores has also constituted a good environment for insects, rodents and astray animals due to storage operations.
What`s more is that stores may lead to outbreak of fires at any moment thus threatening the safety of residents living nearby. They also impose a serious risk to infrastructure as heavy-duty vehicles pass on service lines under the roads causing some cracks on the asphalt layers or breaking sewage or water networks.
Mr. Khalid ar`Rahbi, Director of the urban inspection department, said that due to the massive development made in Muscat governorate over the last years it was necessary to provide a good infrasturcture to keep pace with this development, including building more shops, industrial areas and thus more stores.
Municipal efforts
Ar`Rahbi said that Muscat municipality cooperate with the ministry of housing to determine to the type of land for each title deed in Muscat governorat which, based on the type of land use, Muscat municipality can monitor if owners of building comply with the determined land use in the title deed.
Legal aspect
Local order No. 23 / 92 on the organization of buildings in Muscat in article (115) stipulates that it is not permissible to establish workshops and factories and crushers and sale of construction materials and all the works and crafts that are harmful to public health and which cause nuisance and the convenience of residential areas, commercial, and purposes and uses of the buildings according to the purpose for which it was issued under a building permit at the location identified by that license.