Page 273 - Bahrain Gov annual reports (V a)_Neat

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Land prices show no tendency to decrease, they are, in fact, higher than in the previous
year. Prices of gardens near the town have risen considerably, they are being purchased by
speculators with the idea of selling them in lots as building sites or as sites for commercial
undertakings such as tile factories, work shops, garages, etc. In several gardens which have
recently changed hands all the trees have been cut down and the ground has been levelled.
In the past no Arab would willingly live in or near gardens, owing to the danger of malaria
caused by the mosquitoes in the water channels but now owing to the anti-malaria measures
which have been carried out by the Government over many years it is no longer considered
dangerous to live close to gardens.
The value of gardens in other parts of the island, distant from Manama, has improved
This is due to the fact that the Water and Agriculture Committee has granted permission more
freely for new artesian wells to be drilled, permits have been given on the condition that old
wells are shut down. In most of these eases pumping, is necessary to bring the water to the
surface; in this there is one advantage, if the water can only be raised by pumping there is
little likelihood of its running to waste. Another factor contributing to the increased value of
gardens is the demand for lucerne and vegetables which are now more profitable to grow than
dates. Dates, as a staple food, are ceasing to be as important as they were,especially among the
younger generation who prefer and can afford to buy imported fresh fruit and tinned goods.
Labour to work in the gardens still presents a problem and if it was not for the large numbers
of Omani immigrants who come to Bahrain to find work it would be impossible to find sufficient
agricultural labourers to tend the gardens. Most of those who used to work in the gardens
are now employed in other more profitable work. The chief income from date gardens is from
the sale of fresh dates, which are still popular. A similar situation exists in Basra where there
is less demand for dates and so the value of date gardens has fallen.
Sales of Government land. During 1955, 110 plots of land were sold for Rs. 2,55,000 as
compared to 74 plots, for Rs. 1,89,000 in 1954. Part of the 1955 proceeds were from amounts
due on sales in the previous year. Many of the sales were to Government employees who took
advantage of the Building Loan Scheme; these sales were of plots of ground, suitable for small
houses, on the land previously rented to Cable and Wireless, west of the fort, where a number
of policemen brought ground, on the north side of Muharraq and at Rifaa. Some small
plots of ground, previously occupied on rent by the purchasers, were sold inside the towns.
At Rifaa 53 building plots were sold at 2 Annas per square foot to occupants of the ground,
3 Annas per square foot to residents of Rifaa owning no property there and 5 Annas per square
foot to purchasers from outside Rifaa. This arrangement, which has worked very well, has
prevented land speculators from buying large areas to re-sell. The district where land is sold
has been laid out as a housing estate. The provision of electricity in Rifaa has much increased
its popularity.
Rents of Government Property. Rents of government shops and the premises above them
amounted to Rs. 74,897. This was somewhat less than the collections in 1955 due, partly, to
the leases being according to the Muslim Calendar. Land rents from long leases produced
Rs. 7,955 and rents from short leases amount to Rs. 12,971/-.
Auctions and Assessments. Eight properties were auctioned by order of the courts, most
of these sales were carried out at the desire of people who originally held shares in a property
and who wished to separate their holdings. Only 7 properties were assessed to establish their
rents, this may be an indication that disputes between tenants and landlords are becoming less
frequent.
Electric Scheme. The department undertook and carried out successfully a great deal of
heavy work in connection with the erection of the new electric poles which crossed many gardens
and privately owned property. TheSuperintendent of the department with representatives of the
contractors, Messrs. D. and C. and William Press Ltd., surveyed the line of the poles and after
interviewing numbers of landlords succeeded in making arrangements for the line. In the gar­
dens a large number of date palms had to be cut down in order to make it possible to site the
line ahead. Only in the village of Diraz was any trouble met with, the people of this village are,
however, notoriously aggressive. Compensations for the trees which were cut had not yet been
paid at the end of the year as in some places it seemed probable that further cutting would have
to be done.
Establishment. Some additions were made to the staff of the department, whose work
is increasing steadily without a corresponding increase in personnel.
General. Over Rs. 2,400/- was received from the sale of maps and aerial photographs;
last year sales amounted to over Rs. 6,000/- but all Government Departments and most firms
made their purchases in 1954.
No legislation of importance relating to land ownership was passed during the year.