Page 40 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (IV)_Neat

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Town Planning.—Discussions were in progress at the end of the year about plans to cut a
wide road through the town from north to south, this road would be a continuation of Barrett Road
terminating at a point on the west of the two blocks of Wakf houses opposite the Catholic Church.
Several plots for building were sold on the land lying east of the Jufair Road which it is hoped will
develop into a new suburb of the town. Wide roads have been laid out in this area but people are
reluctant to build in the neighbourhood because it is a little distant from the centre of the town.
Most of the townsfolk of Manama, especially the Shias, prefer to live in cramped quarters as near as
possible to the bazaar, closely surrounded by their neighbours rather than move out to the open spaces
on the south of Manama. They regard as a disadvantage the additional time which it would take
them to walk to schools, shops and offices.
Buildings.—There was an increase in building during the year; 45 new stone houses were
constructed, 66 saaf houses were built and 288 stone houses were repaired. A large new cinema
at the western end of the Sea Road, with seating accommodation for about 600 people, was completed
and opened. A smaller open air cinema was built on Bclgrave Road and a third cinema was under
construction at the end of the year. Among other buildings completed or partly completed was the
large block of Government offices in the Customs Square, a filling station at the Sooq al Arb'a, the
new premises of the Imperial Bank of Iran and several private dwelling houses.
Routine Work,—The usual municipal services were maintained throughout the year, on an
average 150 men were continuously employed on road work and town cleaning. Twenty new donkey
carts, fitted with rubber tyres, were acquired for collecting town rubbish and carrying it to low lying
areas where it was used for reclaiming ground. Municipal inspectors examined 15,771 heads of sheep
and 2,183 heads of cattle which were slaughtered at the municipal abattoir, 2,537 dead animals were
removed from the streets and houses and burned.
General.—The municipal boundary was extended by the Government in a south-east direction
in order to take in the group of new houses on the Jufair Road.
During the year two water carts, which could be used as fire engines, and four load carrying
trucks costing together Rs. 68,500, were purchased.
During the bakers’ strike the municipal authorities took a leading part in organising the making
and sale of bread.

The council met 14 times and the sub-committee had 22 meetings.
MUHARRAQ AND HEDD MUNICIPALITIES.
(From the report of Mr. Ibrahim Khalfan, Secretary to the Muharraq Municipal Council.)
Statement of Revenue and Expenditure
Revenue. Expenditure.
Rs. a. p. Rs. a. p.
Administration:
Shop tax 15.552 14 6 Staff salaries, etc................. 30,008 11 4
House tax 23.836 5 3 Office expenses 1.845 x0 ?
Government grant .. 36,000 0 0 Transport.......................... I3.9x5 3 6
Share of vehicle tax 14,564 6 6
Rent of property 8,926 10 6 Works: 6 6
Slaughter house fees 582 12 0 Town cleaning 30.x95
4.043 1 9
Wood, ghee & sheep taxes 11,768 11 0 Town lighting 3X.X56 7 \
Miscellaneous 4.452 2 6 Road repairing 2,113 0 o
Deficit 3.693 x4 8 Widening roads .. 2,766 8 o
Pauper burials
Upkeep of property 266 14 6
Upkeep of public wells .. 658 2 6
Lunatic Asylum .. 436 14 o
Rents •• •• 840 0 0
Miscellaneous 1,131 13 7
Total Rs. I.I9.377 12 11 Total Rs. 1.19.377 x2 11