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Doha witnesses demolition drive

Talking about the move, sources in the building industry reveal that the demolition of old structures is inevitable due to the fast-paced developments that the country has been witnessing in the recent past.

According to figures, 2240 building permits have been issued in the city during 2007, and more than 1300 new housing units have been offered completion certificates.

The 3000 odd applications that were received by the Doha Municipality clearly indicate the construction boom in the country.

“The 495 demolished buildings that have been demolished were old and remained uninhabited, and hence their demolition will not have an adverse impact on the housing situation in the country,” said Khalid Al Kuwari, who is a prominent builder and a former member of the Centeral Municipal Council (CMC).

Yet another CMC member, Hamad bin Noora Al Marri, backed the demolitions stating that they were unavoidable due to the fast-paced developments happening in the country, and added that, with increasing need for public amenities, old buildings must pave way for the new.

Al Kuwari explained that although there is a huge gap in the demand-supply segment, the shortages for housing are being faced due to higher demand, rather than demolitions, as these demolitions have been earmarked for a long time now, and the buildings were uninhabited.

An effective way to tackle housing shortage would be to permit construction of high-rise buildings within city limits. In certain city localities, the authorities do not permit buildings with more than four storeys, and such rules need to be modified in view of the housing situation currently prevailing in the market, Al Kuwari said.

He continued to say that, apart from permitting construction of high-rises in Doha, the authorities should also grant permission to develop new residential areas in the out-skirts of the city, as both vertical and horizontal expansion are required to cope with housing shortage.

There is still shortage being faced in basic building materials, posing difficulty for contractors. Al Kuwari urged the authorities to take measures to ease the shortages.

He revealed that the employers are facing a tough time in providing suitable accommodation for their workers due to shortage of large accommodation, which adds to housing crisis. Hence the concerned authorities should take care to see that there are enough developed areas near industrial areas with labor camps.

Posted on 15/3/2008