Page 352 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (IV)_Neat

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PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

(Report by Mr. S. Ilills, Ofliccr-in-Charge).
The Public Works Department’s expenditure in 1370 totalled Rs. *18,43,783 as against
Rs. 38,48,038 in the previous year. Of the increase, about Rs. 1,20,000 is directly due to the rise in
wages which came into force in Shawal. A sum of Rs. 1,74,189 was paid out in contracts for filling,
and a further sum of Rs. 89,525 was spent on land purchase and charged against the Public Works
Department. The amount actually spent on " works ” was, therefore, Rs. 45,80,069, an increase
over last year of nearly 20 per cent.
From these figures it will be seen that the Department had another very busy year. The
Government’s policy of erecting large public buildings was continued and extended ; the roads
programme was pushed ahead vigorously; and an unusually large sum was spent on maintenance
and decoration.
For nine months the weather was favourable. The winter was exceptionally mild and no time
was lost through cold, windy weather, while the number of wet days was very small. The last three
months of the year, however, produced the worst weather for two generations, and the Public Works
Department’s activities suffered heavily. For a time the road-works bad to be shut down entirely,
and progress on the construction works could only be continued under great difficulties.
Throughout the year prices rose steadily and, at its close, the cost of works had risen by about
25 per cent. In addition to the rise in wages, practically all stores imported from the United Kingdom
had risen in price ; although there was no appreciable increase in the cost of locally produced materials.
The increased cost of works was most apparent on the smaller jobs and on maintenance and decoration
—the larger, constructional jobs all costing approximately the estimated figures. It is most unfortunate
that much of the Department’s work on maintenance and decoration—always relatively costly—
has, perforce, to be carried out during the three worst months of the summer.
The rise in cost of certain items of the Department’s work is a matter for concern ; but other
aspects of the year’s work can be viewed with satisfaction. With the completion of the road to Hedd,
the " new roads ” programme, started three years ago, was finished. In addition to the
original programme, many smaller roads in Manamah and Muharraq have been surfaced, as well as
most of the compounds of the Government buildings. The improvement in general cleanliness and
freedom from dust is most marked, and no longer are the roads dangerous in wet or humid weather.
The main water supply proved a real boon to the population in the exceptional heat of the summer
and, at last, the supply seems to be on a fairly sound financial basis. For “ major works ” 1370 was
certainly a good year. A large amount of purely commercial construction was carried out, mainly
for the Customs and the State Engineer’s Departments; the Education Hostel was finished ; two
large schools were built and a third started in Muharraq ; and a further block of residential flats,
as investment, was about 60 per cent completed at the end of the year. These buildings all show
advances in standard—they arc bigger in conception and of a higher quality of work. Needless to
say, they all follow—as far as possible—the local traditional style of architecture and are largely built
of local materials.
It is satisfactory to report how quickly local tradesmen have become proficient in the more
up-to-date methods of work introduced during the last two years and, on the whole, the general
standard of workmanship has improved. At one time, over 1,700 men were employed, and the daily
average was over 1,500. The office and stores staffs were not increased, so all concerned had to work
at high pressure and, as before, the staff worked keenly and well.

WORKS
Main Water Supply :
During tne year, an additional 315 connections to private consumers were made and, in the
summer, a few more public water points were installed. The fears expressed in the last report that,
with a really hot summer, the supply might prove inadequate, were not realised and, despite the