Residents of Al Subigha in Ajman have complained about air pollution and an unpleasant smell coming from a rubbish dump and a sewage plant.
They say the issues have affected their health and called officials at the Ministry of Environment to take action to resolve the problems.
An Emirati resident, FM, said when residents notified the authorities they were promised the incinerator would be moved. It was moved, but to a site nearer the residential area than the first site.
Saif bin Ghadir Al Ketbi, acting director of Masfout Office at the Ajman Municipality and Planning Department, told Al Ittihad, the Arabic-language sister paper of The National, that no complaint about the rubbish dump was registered in the “suggestion and complaint system” in 2014. He noted that the last complaint logged was dated December 24, 2013, and concerned smoke emitting from the incinerator. That situation was dealt with, he said.
Humaid Al Mualla, director of Public Health and Environment Department in Ajman, said the waste disposal site should be moved to another place, rather than trying to rectify the situation at the current site. He said the Ministry of Environment and Water started a study to years ago on ways to improve waste management in the Northern Emirates.
Further details will be revealed by the ministry next month.
newsdesk@thenational.ae
