(MENAFN- Emirates News Agency (WAM)) Dr. Eng Abdullah Belhaif Al-Nuaimi, Minister of Public Works, has inspected the dams to ensure their efficiency and safety after the maintenance work carried out by the ministry as part of the operational plans 2014-2016, following the heavy rains in the past few days in the central region.
He underscored that the UAE has been demonstrating commitment, since its inception, to the development of integrated and high quality infrastructure, hence achieving an advanced position in the Global Competitiveness index in various fields of development.
Al Naimi said that the efforts of the Ministry of Public Works to enhance the efficiency of the country's infrastructure, using international best practices in this field, "are aimed at supporting the UAE Vision 2021, and its national agenda for the coming period."
He made the remarks while paying an inspectional to dam projects in the northern and eastern emirates, in line with the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, for the development of infrastructure overseen by the ministry.
The Minister stressed the need for the maintenance of dams and upgrading the standard of safety to protect citizens and their homes and property from rain water, as well as minimise damages that may be caused by floods. However, "the tour revealed that all the dam projects were not affected by the floods, due to their world-class specifications, design and construction."
He pointed out that the Ministry will continue periodic maintenance of the dams to ensure their capacity to cope with rainwater, according to studies carried out by specialised international firms.
Al Shouka Dam was the first project on the agenda of the Minister during the tour, immediately after the rains recently experienced by the region. The dam has a design capacity of 275,000 cubic metres of water, and measures 13m in height and 107m in length.
The dam contributes in improving groundwater- bearing layers and quality of water used for agricultural activities. In addition, the dam's drainage system minimises accumulation of mud layers, which leads to lower porosity of surface soil and increased evaporation of rainwater, thus hampering maximum utilisation.
The Minister of Public Works also launched an initiative to develop Al Shouka Dam entrance, which aims to create tourist attractions and ensure safety in the surrounding area, in cooperation with local authorities and the Ministry of Environment and Water. The initiative seeks to install garden fittings such as umbrellas, parasols, chairs, tables and games.
The ministry is currently overseeing the maintenance of 101 dams, with a total storage capacity of 75,963,114 cubic metres of water, including 54 in Fujairah emirate, 30 in Ras Al Khaimah, 9 in Ajman, 7 in Sharjah, and one dam in Umm Al Qaiwain. In addition, the ministry oversees the maintenance of 32 falajs.
The tour conducted by the Minister of Public Works to a number of projects, also covered the project for motorist rest areas along the federal roads, undertaken by the ministry. These include six projects, four on Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Street, which is now 85% finished and others along Al Dhaid - Massafi road, with 20% of work achieved.
During the field visit to roadside rest areas, accompanied by assistant undersecretaries and a number of ministry engineers, the Minister gave the go-ahead with the implementation of two new rest areas along the Emirates Road from Al Aqran area to Al Tawteen, under the comprehensive plan to raise the standards of security and safety on the roads, for the benefit of vehicles, police patrols, those with special needs, and ambulance, and Masar cars. The locations and capacity of these rest areas are based on studies conducted by the ministry to determine the traffic density on the roads and the need for such facilities.
In this context, the tour featured a briefing on the latest developments in plantation initiative, aimed at increasing the green areas on federal roads, in order to ensure safety for road users and reducing the rate of desertification, in collaboration with the municipalities and local governments.
Plantation of federal roads is an initiative that will directly contribute to enhanced safety on federal roads, by preventing sand encroachment on roads, which affects safety and security on highways, causing slippery spots, as studies indicate.
The reforestation initiative also comes as part of green building concept adopted by the ministry and to maintain the ecological heritage of the UAE, within the ministry's plan to increase green spaces within its urban development projects, using various mechanisms including wastewater treatment and usage in irrigation, to provide a healthy environment that contributes to lower temperature and humidity, air pollution, and carbon emissions, as well as adding an aesthetic scene to the entire area.
At the end of the tour led by the Minister of Works, accompanied by media representatives operating in the country, the Minister confirmed that the ministry will spare no effort to expedite the achievement of sustainable development, and construction of government buildings and service facilities in the UAE, including infrastructure and federal roads, in order to realise the the UAE Vision 2021.
"The new projects being implemented by the Ministry of Public Works will significantly contribute to supporting economic growth and prosperity for all citizens," the Minister concluded.
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