On May 15, 2019, I wrote that Kuwait Municipality had uncovered several cases involving citizens who had seized or encroached upon state property and illegally exploited it. One such violation alone covered an area of 282,000 square meters, making it possibly the largest and most blatant real estate encroachment in Kuwait’s history. With what audacity, calculation, or rather stupidity did these individuals think they could benefit from such unlawful gains without being detected by any regulatory authority, given the enormous scale of the violation and its blatant presence along the waterfront?
In another case of encroachment, sand from Subiya worth millions of dinars was illegally extracted and sold to construction and contracting companies. Recently, a trial balloon was floated in the form of a decision to remove carports or impose fees on them, a move that was met with strong public opposition. Carports are a necessity in Kuwait because its climate is vastly different from that of Lausanne, Switzerland. Kuwait is a desert country with extremely high summer temperatures, making it extremely difficult to leave vehicles exposed to the scorching sun for extended periods. Therefore, the relevant authorities should consider developing better alternatives to the unattractive corrugated iron or fabric awnings that are prone to damage.
One possible solution is to encourage the planting of trees to provide shade and protect vehicles from direct sunlight. There are organizations specializing in planting trees in parking areas that could be consulted for practical solutions. Encroachments on state property are an ongoing issue involving both citizens and residents, requiring continuous monitoring throughout the year. Therefore, there is a need for a permanent committee dedicated to removing encroachments on state property, headed by a prominent national figure known for integrity and decisiveness. I previously mentioned that the departure of retired Lieutenant General Mohammad Al-Bader had affected the committee’s work, as decisive action was absent for nearly a decade. It is now clear that firmness is being restored.
Committees responsible for removing encroachments on state property have uncovered tunnels beneath streets, underground basements built entirely beneath gardens, and parking areas capable of accommodating dozens of vehicles, all constructed on state land. Some citizens have created what resemble private parks, extending over tens of thousands of square meters in front of their homes, enclosed by iron fences erected on public property, in addition to constructing rooms for domestic workers. Therefore, it was necessary to apply the regulations equally to everyone, as was done in cases involving the revocation of citizenship. Note: All claims and reports suggesting that municipal teams removed carports properly installed around homes or in parking areas at several state hospitals are completely false.
By Ahmad alsarraf
email: [email protected]
email: [email protected]
