Page 417 - Bahrain Gov annual reports (V a)_Neat

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prevent speculation, and the condition that building should be begun within two years. The
sites west of the fort were sold at prices varying according to the position from Rs 1/12 to
Rs 2/4 per square foot. For some years now open land in or near the towns in Bahrain has
been sold by the square foot ; dale gardens or open land for cultivation is sold by “magharas”
18 ft. x 8 ft., which was originally regarded as the area necessary for the cultivation of one palm
tree. At Rafaa, where 88 plots were sold, the price varied between 2 and 5 annas per square
foot, preferential prices being charged in the case of people living in Rafaa.
Prices of date gardens distant from the towns continued to be low owing to the difficulty in
obtaining labour to cultivate the gardens and also because dried dates are becoming less and
less an important part of the staple diet of the people. Some landlords, failing to find tenants
worked their gardens at a loss, with hired labour. Small plots of cultivation were more
successful owing to the high prices paid for lucerne and vegetables and the help and advice
which cultivators obtained from the Agricultural Department. The water and agricultural
committee gave permission to drill more artesian wells, some of them to replace unsatisfactory
wells which were cemented in, some on new ground, after the sites had been surveyed by the
committee and reported on by the Bahrain Petroleum Company’s geologist. The committee,
however, tended to recommend too freely the numerous applications for permission to drill
more wells which will eventually have a serious effect on the country’s water supply. Pumps
now have to be used in many of the wells, including some that used to have a good head of
water.
Over Rs 76,000 was collected by the department in rents from government shops and
leased offices.
The Department referred 443 cases to the Bahrain Court for verification of ownership.
Rents of lands let on long leases amounted to Rs 37,000, this included back payment for a
large property. Rs 3,000 being the price of maps of Bahrain sold to the public was collected
during the year.
The Department played a valuable part in arranging the route for the high tension over­
head lines which carry electric power to the villages. It was necessary to cut down a number
of date palms and other trees and to cross properties which were privately owned. The
Department was assisted by a committee who made a record of the number of trees which had
been cut ; the owners are to receive compensation.
On 1st June, Mr. Abdel Aziz, who had acted as head of the Department since the retire­
ment of Khan Sahib Mohammed Khelil, was confirmed as Director of the Land Department.