ShareKUWAIT: The Municipal Council’s environmental committee, chaired by councilmember Aliaa Ahmad Shaikhan Al-Farsi, has announced a detailed plan to address the worsening environmental and health conditions in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh. The recommendations, presented during a workshop, outline urgent steps to improve sanitation, repair infrastructure and enhance public health in the densely populated area.
Al-Farsi told Kuwait Times the recommendation will be submitted during the next Municipal Council session on Monday. “These are urgent solutions for the recovery of the area. The area is suffering environmentally and health-wise in a way that must be addressed,” she said. She underscored the importance of inter-agency cooperation, led by the Municipal Council, to improve living conditions in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh.
A joint site visit involving all participating agencies, arranged by Al-Farsi, will be conducted to assess the on-ground situation. This will include representatives from the Kuwait Municipality and all parties that participated in the environmental workshop and other stakeholders.
A subsequent field survey will evaluate air and water quality, pollution levels, and the impact of these factors on public health. Experts from the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research and the National Center for Space Research will assist in analyzing the data to determine the extent of environmental damage and its implications.
Addressing the spread of rats and stray dogs is among the key priorities. The committee emphasized the need for stricter enforcement of hygiene regulations by the Kuwait Municipality and the Environment Public Authority. Additional support will come from the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources and the Ministry of Health’s rodent control department to mitigate the health risks posed by poor sanitation.
The committee also highlighted the fragmented sewage and drainage systems in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh, which have contributed to significant environmental hazards. Urgent repairs will be undertaken by the Kuwait Municipality and the Ministry of Public Works in compliance with municipal and environmental standards, along with the Ministry of Interior and Environment Public Authority. Alongside these efforts, an emergency plan will address the poor state of roads and other infrastructure to ensure access for service vehicles and equipment, undertaken by Kuwait Municipality, Ministry of Public Works, Ministry of Interior and Kuwait Fire Force.
Overcrowding and improper real estate usage were identified as major contributors to the deteriorating conditions. The committee proposed enforcing stricter zoning and building regulations to alleviate these issues, with support from the Public Authority of Manpower, Ministry of Interior and Public Authority for Civil Information. These measures aim to improve the quality of life in the area and reduce environmental strain.
To raise awareness among residents, especially expatriates, the council will launch an education campaign using multilingual warning signs to encourage adherence to environmental regulations. Meanwhile, the Kuwait Municipality will intensify its supervision in the area, taking legal action against violators and ensuring compliance with building, commercial and agricultural regulations.
The comprehensive plan calls for the active participation of all relevant authorities to implement these reforms, as sustained efforts are crucial to achieving meaningful and lasting change in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh. On the expected timeline for the implementation of the plan, Al-Farsi cautioned the Municipal Council is a legislative council, not an executive one. “If the recommendations are issued by a decision of the Municipal Council, the decision will be enforceable and the Municipality must implement the recommendations,” she told Kuwait Times.
