Tensions escalated during a session of the Southern Municipal Council yesterday as members voiced frustration over the handling of rainwater flooding during the Eid Al Fitr holidays, despite officials insisting that resources had been allocated according to priority and need.
Councillor Mubarak Faraj said many residents struggled to receive timely assistance, noting that suction trucks were often unavailable when urgently needed.
“We found ourselves chasing municipal staff just to speed up water removal, while the communication officials went silent throughout the rainfall period during Eid,” he alleged.
Services and public utilities committee chairman councillor Ali Al Shaikh echoed these concerns, pointing to a lack of essential equipment to respond to emergencies.
“There are not enough pumps, suction vehicles or tankers,” he claimed. “Work appears random, and during rainfall we don’t even know who is responsible on the ground.”
Councillor Mohammed Darraj questioned why such challenges continue to arise in a developed country, noting that procedures could be expedited but are often ‘slowed down by bureaucracy’.
“Why are we still talking about draining rainwater in 2026? The same locations flood repeatedly, what’s so complicated about understanding and fixing the problem?” he said.
Technical committee chairman councillor Ahmed Al Abdulla acknowledged the shortcomings, but stressed the need to understand operational realities.
“Conditions in the field are far more complex than just pumping water,” he said. “Calls come in from members of the public and multiple authorities simultaneously, and managing equipment during and immediately after rainfall is extremely challenging.”
Councillor Hamad Al Zoubi highlighted specific problem areas, revealing that Dar Kulaib cemetery remained flooded. “It needs simple solutions, but action is being delayed,” he added.
Southern Municipality director-general Isa Al Buainain defended the efforts of the authorities, stressing that resources were deployed based on need.
“We have 20 tankers distributed according to priority, not quotas,” he said. “Rainfall intensity dictates our movement. Conditions change rapidly, and while we plan, reality on the ground can be very different.”
He added that emergency directives require flexibility. “Some areas need urgent intervention, so we adjust schedules accordingly. Whether it is Riffa, Isa Town or elsewhere, we work to resolve issues within the same day,” he explained. “There should be no hesitation in contacting me directly if staff do not respond.”
Councillor Abdulla Darraj, however, argued that poor co-ordination between the relevant authorities had contributed to delays in addressing the situation. “There is no clear line between the two ministries,” he said. “Each side shifts responsibility, while the public simply wants clean streets and safe neighbourhoods.”
Council chairman Abdulla Abdullatif highlighted that waterlogging at several sites have already been addressed through joint efforts by the Works Ministry and the Municipalities and Agriculture Affairs Ministry.
“Responsibilities are divided as workers have to clear main roads and internal areas,” he explained, suggesting that volunteers from the national platform could be mobilised during emergencies in future.
Council vice-chairman Abdulla Bubshait described the situation as an unavoidable consequence of crisis conditions.
He noted that ‘during emergencies, things become chaotic as everyone contacts everyone’, and stressed the need for a clearer, more structured division of responsibilities to prevent similar confusion in the future.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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