KUWAIT CITY, May 15: The ‘First Generation’ diwaniya in Yarmouk recently hosted a symposium entitled, ‘Implementing an Infrastructure Improvement Project in Yarmouk’, at the invitation of the cooperative society in the area. Present at the event were the acting Assistant Undersecretary for the Sanitary Engineering Sector at the Ministry of Public Works Abdul Rahman Al-Enezi, members of the Board of Directors and President of the Cooperative Society Suleiman Al-Baijan, Head of Yarmouk Police Station Colonel Abdullatif Al- Qattan, Project Engineer Muhammad Helou, a group of people from the area and the ministry’s engineers.

Al-Enezi stressed that the ministry, under the guidance of Minister of Public Works and Minister of State for Municipal Affairs Dr. Noura Al- Mashaan, is keen on implementing contracts within the specified dates; especially the infrastructure contracts, due to their importance in developing and modernizing services in residential areas which, in turn, contribute to raising the standard of well-being and living of citizens. He explained that the contract to improve the infrastructure in Yarmouk has a contractual cost of KD 10.945 million and was signed on March 10, disclosing that work began on April 2. He said television filming is currently being done to ensure the safety of the rain drainage network and maintenance works that will be carried out including putting asphalt and other services.

He added the duration of the contract is three years and is scheduled to be completed on April 2, 2027, followed by a maintenance phase for the works that have been implemented. “We hope that the residents of Yarmouk will cooperate with us by enduring the inconvenience that the contract work will cause due to drilling, breaking tiles and others, as we are all seeking to achieve public good. The contract work includes replacing the entire sanitary sewer network, as well as replacing parts of the rain, telephone and lighting networks, the final asphalt layer, tiles and water lines for the irrigation networks,” he explained. He pointed out: “As part of the commitment to inform and familiarize citizens with the project, we have placed information boards at the three entrances to the area.

The project’s advisory body is keen on communicating with those residing in the area, listening to their suggestions and complaints, and responding to their inquiries. A work plan and a media team have been created, in cooperation with Yarmouk Cooperative Society, to play this important role from the beginning of the project until its end. The difficulties have been identified, including the presence of service buildings, traffic density, narrow streets and awnings in front of houses. We are committed to returning them to the way they are after completing the work, as part of the terms of the contract. This is in addition to the presence of housing in the construction stages and the sidewalks being covered with trees. Trees will be removed only if absolutely necessary, which hinders the implementation of work, and the central island in the area will be removed. The difficulties that businesses will face are parking on sidewalks and official working hours during summer, which are determined by the Ministry of Social Affairs. It will be adhered to in respect of State’s laws. Work will be stopped at peak traffic times in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior.”

By Mohammed Ghanem
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff