NEWS FROM THE UAE
Excerpts from UAE Dailies

RTA plan to tackle traffic congestion

DUBAI —  JUN 12: Traffic congestion and low levels of traffic safety are among the main issues to be tackled by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) as parts of it’s Strategic Plan for 2007-2009, announced a top RTA official yesterday.

During a meeting at the Emirates Towers Hotel to announce the list of 10 main ‘to-dos’ for the next three years, RTA Chairman and CEO Mattar Al Tayer said Dh40 billion would be spent by the authority to meet the assigned goals.

“A fast-changing city planning, unavailability of planning information and lack of coordination among land use and RTA planning is among the root causes of traffic congestion,” he added.

Citing other causes Al Tayer said, “There is limited use of mass public transport in the UAE.”

“There is also an inefficiency of the road network due to bad traffic behaviour among drivers while a weakness in handling emergency situations also exists,” he explained.

Al Tayer also said with 20 fatalities per 100,000 compared to six in countries like Briain and Sweden, traffic safety levels in the UAE were lower than those in advanced countries.

Describing the technical plans of RTA until the year 2020, Al Tayer said the Metro will cover 318-km-long area, trams will cover 270km while  the bus will cover an area of 3,000 km.

Later, Al Tayer told the media that as per a survey conducted by the authority, only six per cent of Emiratis expressed the desire to use the Metro. “We want to encourage the use of Metro and are holding campaigns regarding this,” he said.

He also said the RTA had adopted a standard system in issuing of driving licences and training to improve the road safety issues.

The targets set by RTA will tackle issues ranging from traffic congestion to integration of mass transport systems to upgrading it’s resources.

STRATEGIC GOALS

- By March 2008 the road network capacity would be increased to 47 routes compared to only 19 in 2006. There will be an additional nine access routes, including interchanges

- The length of the roads will be increased to a total of 3,000km while there will be 80 main roads within the emirate

- 210km will be earmarked for marine transport; the number of boats will be increased to 57 and 50 stations

- Increase in number of pedestrian crossings and pathways for bikes

- Introduction of unified card system for metro, marine and other modes of transport

- Abras to be converted to hybrid engines with the traditional aspect kept intact

- Signing of 40 strategic agreements with partners

- Privatising of non-core services with a target of 37 per cent in 2008

- Achieving 95 per cent success in all the 230 technical services provided by the authority, and introducing schemes involving the public and strategic partners

KHALEEJ TIMES

Collection centres get 600 amnesty applications

DUBAI — JUN 12: The Indian Consulate has received nearly 600 applications from amnesty seekers on the first day of the opening of 12 collection centres across the country.

Indian Consulate spokesperson B.S Mubarak said, “The first day saw some 600 applications coming to us from different centres, of which 259 came from our Indian High School centre alone,” he said.

The consulate had deployed volunteers at the Shaikh Rashid Auditorium in Indian High School for helping the amnesty seekers. “We have appointed people who know different languages so that people don’t face any problem when it comes to language. The crowd is expected to increase in the coming days. The processing of applications would be completed by July 1,” said consulate officials.

K.A Mathew, president of the Indian Association, Sharjah stated that a large number of people had turned up. The association had received more than 250 applications until lunch. “People have been turning up in big numbers. There are people who have come in for queries, too. We expect a good crowd within a couple of days now and our office-bearers are fully prepared for it,” he said.

Some associations like the Dubai Indian Islamic Centre will begin accepting applications from today. “We have had some problems with our bills and the consulate officials asked us to change it. So we would be beginning from tomorrow,” said an official at the Centre yesterday.

Some of the applicants said the UAE government’s amnesty decision had brought great relief to them. “These centres would be very helpful for us. The best thing is that they have been opened up all across the emirates. We thank the Indian consulate for this. And we also thank the government for announcing amnesty. Now so many like us would be able to go home,” said Rangaswami, a resident of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

KHALEEJ TIMES

Strict security after spotting ‘naked man’

DUBAI — JUN 12: After residents of Springs and Meadows complained of spotting a naked man walking around the lake in the area, Emaar Properties has increased security in the area.

Last week, a couple of residents from the Meadows had spotted a naked man on a bicycle with clothes in his hands.

The residents also alleged that the man had tried to follow one of them and immediately brought it to the notice of the security personnel in the area.

Confirming the incident, Emaar Properties said the matter was being investigated.

A spokesperson from Emaar said, “A resident of Emaar’s Meadows 5 informed the security staff about being followed by a man riding a bicycle on Thursday without his clothes on. The security staff combed the area for the man, fitting the description given by the resident, but was unable to locate him. This was conveyed to the resident.”

The spokesperson added that they took such indecent and uncivilised acts seriously. “Hence, we have strengthened patrolling in the area. We assure that appropriate action, involving the police authorities, will be taken if the man is identified.”

KHALEEJ TIMES

DUBAI/SHARJAH - JUN 12: You’ll now need to spend more on your kitchen now — the price of cooking gas has shot up simultaneously in Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman from Sunday, June 10, Khaleej Times has learnt.

In Dubai, the 11kg (small) gas cylinder which was selling at Dh38 will now cost Dh 43, while the 22kg (medium size) cylinder will now cost Dh76 instead of the previous Dh69. Similarly, the 44kg (large size) cylinder which was earlier priced at Dh129, will now cost Dh143.

In Sharjah, following the latest hike, the current price stands at Dh45 for small cylinder, Dh80 for medium and Dh145 for the large one, a source at Pioneer Gas distribution compan1y said.

A top official at the Sharjah Department of Economic Development (SDED) pointed out that in April this year consumers of cooking gas were given a temporary reprieve from price hikes ranging between Dh15 and Dh20 following directives from SDED.

He, however, explained that the prices were actually dictated by the international market price. The SDED had nevertheless decided to review and revise the LPG cylinder price on the sixth of every month, beginning May 6, he disclosed.

Ali bin Salim Al Mahmoud, director-general of SDED, said his department had been closely monitoring the cooking gas price hike patterns in the emirate and its impact on consumers.

Meanwhile, liquified petroleum gas (LPG) distribution companies in Dubai told Khaleej Times that the price of cooking gas had increased following the hike effected by the gas production company, Emirates Gas.

An official at the Emirates Gas, on the other hand, said the new structure was dictated by international market prices.

Imran Mustafa, manager at Sawab Gas Distribution Company in Sharjah noted that the cooking gas price hike in Sharjah and Ajman was merely following the price hikes of oil and other consumer products in the country. “It has mainly to do with the hike in LPG prices in the international markets,” Mustafa added.

Mubashar, who works with Union Gas in Ajman, also attributed the gas price hike to the increase in prices of several consumer products in the emirate. “As gas distributors we are forced to be on par with the market to eke out whatever little profit we make in this business,” he said. 

KHALEEJ TIMES

A nightout with animals

ABU DHABI — JUN 12: The long-awaited night zoo in Al Ain will be opened on Thursday, according to the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi.

Over the past year, the zoo has undergone extensive expansion with more than 600 animals inhabiting over 40 hectares. Majid Al Mansouri, managing director of the zoo, pointed out that Al Ain Zoo is the only one in the Middle East to remain open at night.

“It is a great opportunity to escape the summer heat and experience something unique in the UAE. I am confident that it will be an unforgettable experience for the whole family,” he said.

Mark Craig, director of Al Ain Zoo, added that visitors will now be able to learn about animals’ night habits. “Many of our animals are nocturnal and, therefore, active at night,” he explained.

A special attraction would be the Night Bird Show, featuring birds of prey, including owls and eagles. The birds will be seen flying freely amid special lighting, thus revealing their natural behaviour. The show will begin at 8pm everyday.

Among other special features at the zoo are night-time desert experience with subtle lighting so that the visitor can enjoy watching animals such as Arabian oryxes, giraffes, zebras, gemsboks, Nubian ibexes, lions, crocodiles and other primates.

The special night programme in Al Ain Zoo will continue through the summer months until September 30. The zoo will remain open 4pm-10pm daily. Admission fees is Dh10 for adults and Dh5 for children above the age of six.

KHALEEJ TIMES

Website lists educational institutions

DUBAI — JUN 12: For the convenience of private and government school students and their parents, the Dubai-based Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has launched on its website a comprehensive guide on educational institutions in the emirate.

The guidebook on the website www.khda.gov.ae enlists not only schools but also universities, vocational education institutions, centres for students with special needs, childcare, adult education and sports centres, Fatima Al Marri, CEO of Learning Agency, an affiliate of KHDA, said.

It contains information and details of the accredited curricula and the type of education the schools provide, she said. It also provides information about the affiliations, accreditation, addresses of schools and their contact numbers.

KHALEEJ TIMES

Abu Dhabi civic body specifies property rent

ABU DHABI — JUN 12: The chairman of the Municipalities and Agriculture Department of Abu Dhabi, Dr Jo’an bin Salim Al Zahery, has issued a decision governing the rent of properties affiliated to the department.

According to the decision, the rents have been specified as per the square metre area.

The annual rent has been fixed at Dh150 per sq. metre for office space, and Dh100 per sq. metre for garages, labour camps, warehouses and workshops.

The rent for open space with no services has been set at Dh12 per sq. metre, and for open space with services, it’s Dh25 per sq. metre.

According to the decision, contractors have no right to sub-lease the property, and the lessee is required to abide by all health and safety conditions as per standards and take full responsibility for any damages to the rented property.

The tenant is required to carry out random maintenance works of the rented property

KHALEEJ TIMES

DRUGS ON DEMAND 
   
  
DUBAI - JUN 12: Pharmacies in Dubai are selling controlled drugs over the counter without asking for a doctor’s prescription, an Emirates Today investigation has revealed.  Our undercover team tried to buy prescription-only medication from 10 chemists across the emirate.

And, in a disturbing revelation, only one pharmacy abided by the law and refused to serve our reporters. None of the drug stores asked the team whether they were already taking the drug or if they suffered from any other medical conditions.

And when our first undercover reporter – a UAE national – asked to buy the controlled medication, she was turned away.

But when an expatriate reporter asked for the same drugs, he was sold them without further questioning.

Our investigation highlights how pharmacies must be clamped down on to prevent medicines – which have potentially deadly side-effects – falling into the wrong hands.

Talking to Emirates Today, Dr Ali Shaker, Under Secretary of the UAE’s Ministry of Health, said the Ministries of Health and Justice are working on a new list of punishments to reprimand pharmacies that violate the law.

“The new law will have unified standards across the Emirates to control such issues, and punish the violators,” he revealed, adding that pharmacists are currently fined between Dh2,000 and Dh5,000 for breaking rules.

“However, under the new regulation, fines will reach up to Dh50,000 and violators could be imprisoned for up to three years. Once this law is implemented, it will make the violators think twice before breaking the rules,” Dr Shaker said.

The new laws were welcomed by medics who urged customers not to buy prescription drugs without consulting a doctor first.

Dr Lalit Uchil, Specialist Physician at Welcare Ambulatory Care Centre at Knowledge Village, said: “I welcome the Ministry of Health’s decision to impose strict punishments.

“I feel that it will prevent many greedy pharmacies from selling controlled drugs to the patients over the counter,” added Dr Uchil.

 
 
EMIRATES TODAY

Cockroach is on à la carte menu
   
 
DUBAI - JUN 12: Dubai Municipality is warning top restaurants they face hefty fines and even closure if they fail to meet hygiene standards.  It comes after restaurantgoers told Emirates Today they had found unwanted creepy crawlies in meals served to them at expensive eateries in the emirate.

Some claim standards are not up to scratch, adding that the presence of bugs proves their point.  For years authorities have battled to ensure cheap backstreet food joints do not cut corners when it comes to cleanliness.  Many have been closed down and owners of others ordered to pay fines.

But now it appears some of the more exclusive establishments are not meeting hygiene criteria and are allowing food to leave the kitchen with bugs and insects lurking.

Premal Watchmaker – a food-lover who eats out as often as possible – said: “I was at a well-known upper-class Asian restaurant and had ordered dim sum.

“The order came, and I picked up a piece only to find a small cockroach stuck on the back,” said the 34-year-old Indian property consultant.  “I called the waiter and pointed it out but he simply apologised and said they would change it.

“But when you pay Dh18 for a bottle of water, you really do expect more than that. I feel as if standards have fallen in Dubai.” Another restaurant-goer said: “I was eating out when I noticed a cockroach on a sample dish set up in the dis play. I called staff over and told them to get rid of it immediately.” Dubai resident Bindu Rai said cockroaches were not the only unwanted item on some menus. The 27-year-old journalist came across black ants when she ate at an upscale Indian restaurant recently.

“I ordered my food and there was a big black ant crawling on the side of the serving dish. I do not know if it popped up on the table somehow, but it was nasty.  “It was the icing on the cake to a completely bad experience,” she said.

Now, the municipality has urged residents to make sure they report all buggy run-ins to their hotline.

“We ask people to dial our hotline to complain. From there we will dispatch our inspection team to check the source,” said Khalid Sharif, the food control section head at the municipality.

“If we find the same sort of insect on the premises, then we will consider the complaint to be true.

“Pest problems are a violation of our standards, and restaurants that have pests can be fined more than Dh500.” In order to curb pests in kitchens, he said municipality requires all eateries to have a contract with an approved pest control company for regular fumigation.

Doors leading outside from the kitchen must be kept closed or curtained.

All items must be transferred out of cardboard or wooden packing into kitchensafe containers before bringing them into the food preparation area.

 
 
EMIRATES TODAY

Dubai - Smuggler admits guilt

Dubai -  Jun 12: A South African national was caught with 21 kilogrammes of marijuana while attempting to enter Dubai through the international airport. The 42-year-old tourist was stopped after customs officials believed he was using a fake passport to illegally enter the country.

While searching the man’s bags police found the drugs hidden in his suitcases, the Dubai Court of First Instance was told yesterday by lawyers. When asked about the discovery he told officials: “It might be marijuana.”

After failing to appear in court on a previous occasion, the defendant yesterday admitted to drug smuggling. A verdict will be delivered later this month when he will be sentenced.

SEVEN DAYS