Geoffrey Bew, Gulf Daily News 2 Mar 08;
AN environmental campaigner has attacked plans to rip out one of Bahrain's coral reefs. The country risks losing its natural habitat forever unless urgent changes are made to planning policies, says Environment Friends Society (EFS) president Khawla Al Muhannadi.
She was commenting on the decision to rip out a coral reef standing in the way of the $2.5 billion (BD945 million) Bahrain Bay development.
The Manama Municipal Council last month gave permission for its removal only days after experts warned at a conference in Bahrain that the Gulf was sitting on an environmental time-bomb, thanks to "reckless" land reclamation.
"We cannot have such a decision taken without having a public inquiry," Ms Al Muhannadi told the GDN.
"There should be a proper environmental impact assessment and a public hearing involving Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) and interested parties. They (the developers) should also talk to the people who are losing their livelihoods because of it," she said.
"If you have to knock down someone's house as part of a development, you have to compensate them and at least take their permission."
Ms Al Muhannadi warned that the importance of Bahrain's natural habitat was being swept aside amid the frantic pace of development.
"Why is the coral reef and natural habitat of the country worth nothing?" she asked.
"If we continue to do things this way, we will lose more and more and we will not be able to go back.
"We cannot wake up one day to realise we made a mistake as nothing will be left."
Ms Al Muhannadi said the EFS would consider what action it could take against the decision before deciding upon its next step.
The fasht, which is located between the King Faisal Corniche and the bay, is blocking work on water channels for the project and developers asked permission to remove it.
The council blocked removal of the reef last June to investigate alleged unlicensed land reclamation at the site.
But the probe was later suspended by Municipalities and Agriculture Affairs Minister Mansoor bin Rajab, as councillors failed to identify the type of violation, or those behind it.
Councillors then unanimously voted in favour of the removal, which they said would ensure a better water flow in the area, already crowded by major developmental projects.
The Bahrain Bay project will include commercial, residential and retail properties, set along the Manama waterfront, with the country's first Four Seasons Hotel as the centrepiece.
It will feature outdoor cafes, shops, restaurants and residential properties from high-rise buildings, condominiums, villas and hotel-serviced apartments.
Around 25,000 people are expected to occupy the finished project, which is being developed in an area of around two million cubic square metres and is set for completion in 2011.
The development is a joint venture between Arcapita Bank and a Bahrain-based private investment group and will also house the global headquarters for Arcapita.
