An old Bahraini proverb goes something like this: “Adhari nourishes that which is far and neglects that which is near” – Ain Adhari being the most famous historic freshwater spring in Bahrain.
Apparently, due to a quirk of regional topography, it was kilometres away that the water of the spring reached a high enough level to irrigate the soil. Consequently, it is said that palm trees near the spring did not benefit from its waters but farms and orchards more than two kilometres away flourished!
I remember very well the famous song of Bahraini singer Mohammed Yousef Al Jumairi, ‘Adhari, where is the water? Where is it?’ which won the admiration of the Bahraini audience with its sense and high taste.
But I was dismayed to learn recently that the historic Bahraini spring watery paradise, shut since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in February 2020, could not opened this summer because an attempt to entice investors to renovate, remodel and repair Ain Adhari has so far failed to attract interest.
This is an absolutely unacceptable justification! It is inconceivable that the Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Ministry, which is responsible for this historic spring, cannot find a solution to this important issue.
Ain Adhari has always been regarded as a significant destination for Bahrainis, not only serving as a reminder of the country’s once abundant natural springs – but also as a popular location where families happily gathered.
The natural spring, which is frequented by many tourists, also provided a means of entertainment for citizens and residents to escape the hot weather in the summer, and was an outlet for many people who couldn’t afford to travel.
A solution has to be found to this issue, even if it means imposing a symbolic entrance fee to cover the maintenance costs and other expenses.
I have often pointed out that the government spends a lot of money on very beautiful facilities and projects, but what we lack is their preservation and sustainability! Why spend huge sums of money on these projects if we cannot preserve them?!
There is no harm in approaching private institutions, companies and banks to provide the necessary care for these projects as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes. I am certain that they will not hesitate to respond to this national call, but rather encourage it whenever it is requested of them, provided that it is rational and logical.
Let me be bold enough to point out that the ministries lack the skills to market many of these projects and services. Many of us who have travelled abroad have seen how government institutions in these countries make tremendous, and exceptional, efforts to preserve the environment, maintain public cleanliness, conduct periodic maintenance of facilities to ensure their sustainability.
The question that arises here is: Why do we lack the will to provide these services? If our government institutions cannot preserve our heritage and historical landmarks, then who will?
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