Page 108 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (II)_Neat

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Other work carried on by the Municipality during the year included the
manufacture and sale of ice during the summer, upkeep of lunatic asylum, sale of
meat at reduced prices during Ramadan and burial of paupers. The sum of Rs. 4,000
was set aside as a contribution towards a hospital.
The town and bazaars during the year were kept in a clean and sanitary
condition and compare very favourably with other towns in the Persian Gulf. The
effective work of the Municipality is due very greatly to the activity of the Secretary
of the Municipal Council, Mohammed Saleh Shatter.
Muharraq Municipality.

The revenue during the year was Rs. 49,418 and the expenditure Rs. 46,809.
Muharraq has not benefited as much as Manama from improved conditions
resulting from development of the oil industry. Muharraq is, and always has been,
the centre of the diving industry and this industry is in a depressed condition.
The leading men of Muharraq are the important boat owners and pearl dealers and
moBt of them are in a financially precarious condition. Muharraq shop-keepers and
house owners complain that until the causeway is completed there will be little
improvement in local trade. The bazaar in Muharraq which is less up to date than
Manama, is not patronised by the money spending foreign employees of the Bahrain
Petroleum Company and few of the Company’s employees rent houses in Muharraq.
The value of house property is very low, large houses, built in Arab style, can be
rented or purchased for almost half the amount which would have to be paid for
similar property in Manama. The municipality of Muharraq is slightly somnolent and
apart from keeping the town comparatively clean it makes little noticeable progress.
Muharraq Municipality has always been content to follow the lead of the Manama
Municipality, but a considerate distance behind.
In addition to the usual town cleaning and scavenging streets the following
work has been done in Muharraq.
Sea Reclamation. A large piece of ground, which has become very valuable
property at the town end of the Muharraq pier, was reclaimed from the sea hy stone
filling.
The wall on the north of Muharraq towards Busaitin, which prevents the sea
from eating away the low lying ground, was repaired and strengthened.
Roads. Over thirty houses, including ‘ barastis ’ were entirely or partly
demolished to widen existing roads. In spite of this, most of the streets in Muharraq
town are so narrow that two cars cannot pass. A number of electric light poles
were moved during work of widening roads.
Eight houses in Held were demolished in order to widen the one road which
runs through that town.
Anti-Malaria Measures. The 6ewers from a number of artesian wells were
cleaned and repaired. Crude oil was distributed among the public with instructions
as to how to use it and leaflets were distributed giving advice about prevention of
mosquito breeding.

Wakf Department.

There is litttle to report on the administration of the wakf properties. The
Shia Wakf Department had the same council as during last year, elections are due
to be held in 1357. The department carried out its duties without the usual intrigues
and disturbances which have characterised previous 3'ear’s administration. The
Shia public have been so occupied with matters concerning the Shia Qadis that they
have refrained from agitation about theWakf Department.
The revenue of the Shia Wakf Department was approximately Its. 26,000
during 1356 out of which Rs. 5,600 was spent on repairs to mosques, Its. 8,000 was
spent on repairs to wakf property and Its. 600 on purchases of new property, the
remainder was expended on the objects for which the endowments were made.