His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi.

Jihan Shuaib, Staff Reporter /WAM

His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has approved Dhs1.75 billion for the first phase of the master plan for sewage treatment plants and irrigation networks in Sharjah City, starting from this year until 2024 at Dhs350 million annually. This is part of a comprehensive and integrated project that includes a 20-year plan covering the emirate’s areas with sewage networks.

Sheikh Sultan approved a site to the east of Sharjah International Airport between Al Rahmaniya, Sharjah International Airport and Umm Fanin for setting up a major treatment plant at a capacity of up to 90,000 cubic metres per day. The plant will serve the areas surrounding Al Rahmaniya, Muwaileh and Al Nouf. Another plant will be developed in the Industrial Area 5 at a cost of Dhs390 million and a third in Al Saj’ah. In future, a plant will be set up to serve Al Seyouh area.

This was announced by Eng. Ali Bin Shaheen Al Suwaidi, Executive Council Member and Chairman of Sharjah Directorate of Public Works, via the Direct Line program broadcast live on Sharjah Radio and TV.

The directorate will start setting up sewage treatment plants for 18 areas, these being Muwaileh, Al Ramaqiya, Al Suwaihat, Al Mawafijah, Al Yash, Al Ghafiya, Al Jarinah and industrial areas 2 to 13, Al Suwaidi said.

Other projects will include the development of the sewage treatment networks in Al Mamzar and Al Khan and the establishment of a pumping station for Muwaileh and University City, a pumping pipeline for the treatment plant to the east of the airport and a pumping station for Al Jarinah, he added.

He continued, “The Department will develop the current system of the irrigation networks to work automatically instead of manually in order to ensure the optimum utilization of treated water to be used to increase the green area in Sharjah. The new system will also include establishment of some automatic irrigation lines for the non-served areas and suburbs in the emirate.”

He stressed that those projects are an important step forward in shaping the future of development and urbanization of Sharjah under the directives of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah. They further aim to establish a comprehensive and sustainable development, develop the services offered and build economic, tourist and infrastructure projects at the best standards to attract investments to the emirate.  

Moreover, the projects keep abreast of the world practices and experiences in the field of sustainability and provision of a safe environment that supports the economic development of the emirate.  They would strengthen efficiency and performance of sewage treatment plants in the emirate, increase their absorptive capacity to deal with the current consumption, and meet the future needs of the expected urban and population growth in Sharjah, he added.

In an unrelated event, Sheikh Sultan received the prestigious gold necklace of the World Organisation of Folk Art, in recognition of His Highness’s efforts in supporting the folklore and heritage around the world, and in appreciation of His Highness’s continuous role in supporting organisations in this field and setting up a number of heritage and cultural centres in various countries.

This came on Tuesday when Sheikh Sultan, in the presence of Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, opened the Sharjah Heritage Days, held under the theme “Craft and Crafts” in the heritage area in the Heart of Sharjah.

His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi was handed over the gold necklace by Abdullah Ali Khalifa, President of the International Organisation of Folk Art, a tribute and appreciation to the Ruler of Sharjah, as a distinguished figure among leaders, senior thinkers and writers who play global roles in the development and support of arts and heritage.

Sheikh Salem Bin Abdul Rahman Al Qassimi, Head of the Ruler’s Office, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Humaid Al Qasimi, Director of Statistics and Community Development, Major General Saif Al Zari Al Shamsi, Commander in Chief of Sharjah Police, Rashid Ahmed Bin Al Sheikh, and a number of seniors attended the opening ceremony.