NEWS FROM THE  UAE
Excerpts from UAE Dailies

Fungal bacteria found in water tanks in schools

DUBAI — Feb. 20: Fungal bacteria have reportedly been found in water tanks of some schools in Kalbaa, Deba Al Hesn, and Khor Fakkan, according to sources at the Sharjah Education Bureau (SEB) in the eastern region.

The SEB is affiliated to the Sharjah Education Zone (SEZ).

Ahmed Salem, the SEB Director, said the bacteria found in the tanks posed risk to the health of students.

Salem added that the specialised company entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining cleanliness of the water tanks was under the scanner. “We are investigating the profile of this company,” Salem said.

The official also informed that urgent remedial steps had been taken, and the affected schools had been directed to give the contract of water cleaning to another company.

Salem said the Ministry of Education (MoE) had given schools the authority to select contractors for cleaning of water tanks. “Hence, the problem can be easily sorted out,” he emphasised.

KHALEEJ TIMES

Expatriates express shock and grief over train blast

DUBAI — Feb. 20: Pakistani and Indian expatriates in the UAE have expressed shock and grief over yesterday’s blast on the Samjhauta Express, killing at least 65 people and injuring dozens.

Says Dubai-based Pakistani banker Ghulam Fareed, “The blast on the train came as a shock. It is also a clear cut indication that certain forces are trying to hamper the peace talks between the countries. In my opinion, such acts are cowardly and they only harm innocent people. This attack will only strengthen the relationship between the countries.”

Aneela B, a Pakistani journalist based in Dubai, says, “Both governments have resolved to continue their peace talks despite terrorist acts. This is also an open ultimatum to Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf as only two days ago, a major blast rocked Quetta. However, all kinds of terrorist attacks should be condemned.”

Jaffar Muhammad, an Indian media professional, stresses that this incident should not affect the ongoing peace attempts between the two countries. “This blast is an attempt to break the friendship between the people in both countries. Both Indians and Pakistanis should realise it and work against the forces instigating such malicious acts.”

For Achut Ramachandran, an Indian expatriate in Sharjah, the incident was shocking. “This blast should not affect the relations between the countries. Instead of blaming each other, both governments should be proactive about finding the anti-social forces behind the incident. I firmly believe that there is no rivalry between the people of two countries. We are brothers and there should be more peace initiatives.”

KHALEEJ TIMES

Vehicles towed away from used-cars market by municipal squad in Sharjah

SHARJAH — Feb. 20: Around 11 cars belonging to used cars showrooms in Abu Shagara were towed away on Sunday night by the Sharjah Municipality.

Warning stickers were also placed on several cars parked in unauthorised parking spaces giving their owners a 24 hours’ notice to move them, failing which the vehicles will be towed away and heavy recovery fees will be imposed on violators. The recovery fees announced earlier  by the Sharjah Municipality ranged fromDh300 to Dh500, according to a civic body source.

The source told Khaleej Times that the municipality had already towed away on Sunday cars found blocking roads and building entrances in the Abu Shagara residential area.  Moreover, to prevent violators, including residents and used car showroom owners, from continuing to cause major traffic snarls by parking their cars in unauthorised parking spaces, the municipality on Sunday night placed warning stickers on the vehicles stating the cars be either moved within 24 hours or penalties will be imposed, added the source.

He said the municipality has been  receiving several calls from residents complaining about the inconvenience caused by used cars occupying all the parking lots in the vicinity of their residences thus leaving no space for ambulances, police cars or fire fighting vehicles if there’s any emergency.

The source further said used car showrooms were each allotted parking spaces by the municipality. But they have apparently started using the residents’ parking spaces to park their used cars.  The municipality offered the parking lots as a temporary solution until used car owners moved to the new used cars market located in Al Ruqqa Al Hamra, which is currently under construction.

“Several warnings have been issued to used car showroom owners, but they have fallen on deaf ears. As a result, the municipality, through its campaign, has now started to tow away used cars, especially of the owners violating the civic body’s regulations,” he said. The 24-hour deadline was to end at 11pm last night. Residents said several people had already moved their vehicles from unauthorised parking spaces in Abu Shagara.

KHALEEJ TIMES

Expatriates express shock and grief over train blast

DUBAI — Feb. 20: Pakistani and Indian expatriates in the UAE have expressed shock and grief over yesterday’s blast on the Samjhauta Express, killing at least 65 people and injuring dozens.

Says Dubai-based Pakistani banker Ghulam Fareed, “The blast on the train came as a shock. It is also a clear cut indication that certain forces are trying to hamper the peace talks between the countries. In my opinion, such acts are cowardly and they only harm innocent people. This attack will only strengthen the relationship between the countries.”

Aneela B, a Pakistani journalist based in Dubai, says, “Both governments have resolved to continue their peace talks despite terrorist acts. This is also an open ultimatum to Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf as only two days ago, a major blast rocked Quetta. However, all kinds of terrorist attacks should be condemned.”

Jaffar Muhammad, an Indian media professional, stresses that this incident should not affect the ongoing peace attempts between the two countries. “This blast is an attempt to break the friendship between the people in both countries. Both Indians and Pakistanis should realise it and work against the forces instigating such malicious acts.”

For Achut Ramachandran, an Indian expatriate in Sharjah, the incident was shocking. “This blast should not affect the relations between the countries. Instead of blaming each other, both governments should be proactive about finding the anti-social forces behind the incident. I firmly believe that there is no rivalry between the people of two countries. We are brothers and there should be more peace initiatives.”

KHALEEJ TIMES

RTA campaign to remove parking blocks outside houses

DUBAI — Feb. 20: A campaign will be launched by the Roads and Transport Authority today to remove parking blocks outside houses in Dubai.

Residents have been asked not to block parking lots outside their houses as it is a violation of the law.

Engineer Maitha Mohammad bin Adai, CEO of Traffic and Roads Agency at the Roads and Traffic Agency,  has said that it has been noticed that some people are violating the law by illegally blocking parking lots in front of their houses by erecting fences which is also distorting the general appearance of the streets.

“This action also impedes provision of emergency services to residents when it is needed,” she added.

She also said that clear instructions had been issued to controllers of the Road Fees and Parking Department at Traffic and Roads Agency to remove the existing parking blocks within two weeks. The RTA will not tolerate offenders, Eng Maitha also noted.

KHALEEJ TIMES

Jogging tracks for fitness freaks

DUBAI — Feb. 20: Here’s a piece of good news for fitness buffs.

The Dubai Municipality has drawn up a plan for setting up tracks exclusively for jogging and brisk walk in playgrounds and other public places.

Such tracks will be located within residential areas as well as public parks as part of an annual plan which will be carried out in coordination with the departments concerned.

Hussain Nasser Lootah, Acting Director of the Dubai Municipality, said, “A four-kilometre long race-cum-jogging track will  be constructed in the Nad Shama area. Similar tracks will also come up at the First and the Third Al Twar Parks situated in the Al Twar area. The projects will be completed by May.” 

The Al Mamzar Lagoon will also have a four metre wide jogging track.

KHALEEJ TIMES

Dubai - Ex-wife’s fury ends in court

Dubai - Feb. 20: A 32-year-old Egyptian woman has received a one month suspended jail sentence for threatening her 75-year-old ex-husband with a knife and swearing at him. The Court of Appeal was told the woman had left the house after her marriage to the Emirati had broken down.

The woman said she was meant to be paid dhs2,500 a month following their divorce and the couple had argued after she moved out of their shared home as she was not receiving the money. On one occassion she threatened the man with a knife while screaming obsenities at him.

The court upheld the earlier sentence passed down by the Court of First Instance but suspended her jail term. The woman, who has two children with her ex-husband, will not be deported.

SEVEN DAYS

Feeding birds by the creek could prove a costly affair  

Dubai - Feb. 20: Sea gulls looking for a quick bite at the Dubai creekside.   Few creek visitors know that feeding birds constitutes littering and invites a fine of Dh 110. 

DUBAI Feeding birds along the creek at Bur Dubai may make you poorer by Dh 110. This Tuesday, the Dubai Municipality’s Environment Protection and Safety Section fined three people for the offence.
Ikramuddin Ansari Imam, a bank employee, was one of the persons who had to pay Dh 110 as a fine. He says, “I thought feeding birds was a good thing. It is sad that I had to pay a price for it. I know littering in the sea is prohibited, so I was throwing the feed on the shore. My idea of naiki kar darya mein dhal (Don’t expect anything for your good actions) backfired on me.”

Throwing bird feed into the creek constitutes littering. Notices at the creek prohibit littering, but do not refer to bird feeding in specific. Bird lovers are allowed to feed birds in an area earmarked near the Rolex twin towers. The place is a little away from the abra station. People unaware of the rules end up throwing pieces of bread or other food into the creek for the birds.

An official from the municipality’s Environment Protection and Safety Section, says, “The littering law introduced in 1991 imposes a minimum fine of Dh 110 for first-time offenders. Feeding birds and fish in the creek or anywhere constitutes littering. Repeated violation of the law can invite a fine of up to Dh 500.”

Sayeed Khan from Mumbai, India, who works in a Dubai-based construction company, says he is aware of the law and does not feed the birds although he sees a number of others doing so, especially in the evenings.

“I have been living in Dubai for the last five years. Seagulls flock to the creek in the evenings and people feed them. They are not aware that they are liable to be fined,” he says.

Imam, however, has given up his bird-feeding hobby ever since the fine. “Every evening I used to visit the creek to feed the birds after buying some bread and other food stuff. I quit going there after the fine.”

“A municipality official stopped me from feeding the birds and noted down my name with my ID card number. I was fined Dh 110,” says another Dubai resident, who preferred anonymity.
An Indian man visiting a friend in Dubai also ended up on the wrong side of the law. “I was supposed to leave for India the next day. Both of us were feeding birds at the creek when a municipality official fined us. Is this what I get for a good deed?” he says.

Bird-feeding is something many people say helps them relax. Adil Zeeshan, a Dubai-based businessman visits the bird-feeding area near the creek everyday. “Feeding birds gives me immense pleasure and peace of mind,” he says.

EVENING POST