Qatar- Ashghal faces flak again over Friday flooding

(MENAFN- The Peninsula)

DOHA: The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has once again come under fire after the heavy rains on Friday caused flooding on several newly constructed highways especially the Labseer tunnel on the Al Shahaniya road.

Ashghal has set up a committee to investigate the issue and suggest solutions. The committee comprising experts and senior officials from Ashghal’s road department is expected to submit its report today Al Sharq reported.

Several citizens and members of the Central Municipal Council (CMC) have criticised Ashghal “for not learning from past mistakes”.

A major flooding on the Salwa Road last year triggered a similar outcry and Ashghal and the Salwa Road project management were held responsible for the deluge by a high level investigation committee appointed by the Prime Minister. The committee lamented the lack of a crisis management system at Ashghal and decided to set up a new mechanism to address this issue.

Critics now say that the abrupt rains on Friday have once again exposed the defects in the rain water drainage system on some major highways across the country. Lack of proper monitoring has resulted in repetition of the same mistakes they say.

They have called for legal action against companies failing to meet the technical requirements while designing and executing road projects.

“There is a lack of coordination between Ashghal and the private companies. Who must be held responsible? Ashghal or the companies? Where is monitoring?” wondered Mansour bin Ahmed Al Khatir a CMC member.

He proposed to set up a committee to follow up on project implementation. The committee should also be authorised to take action against erring companies.

Mohammed Zafir Al Hajri CMC member representing Sheehania said the main problem was that the drainage system became dysfunctional during the rains.

The drainage system was there but it didn’t work due to lack of proper maintenance which caused the flooding in the tunnel leading to closure of the road he said. He asked Ashghal not to be lenient towards erring companies.

Abdulla Al Rumaihi a citizen said Ashghal was primarily responsible for the Sheehania flooding.

He asked Ashghal to review its performance in terms of choosing the companies implementing or planning the projects. It is also necessary to monitor the performance of the companies which seems to be totally lacking.

“A repetition of such incidents shows that there is none to learn from past mistakes. No monitoring no accountability. If there was accountability this would not have happened again” he said.

“Friday’s rains were short. What would happen if it rains continuously and in all parts of the country?” wondered another citizen. 

DOHA: The Meteorology Department has forecast rains in some parts of the country by this afternoon. The “thundery rains” could cause low visibility in some places said the department.

The day would be hazy and hot in the beginning with chances of rains later. Temperature in Doha is expected to hover between 31 and 30 degrees Celsius.