Bahrain's Works Ministry has signed an agreement with environmental consultant, Posford Haskoning Environment Gulf (PHE), for the next stage of Tubli Bay cleaning and protection.

The seven-month project will incorporate specific environmental studies of the bay as identified by the consultant to provide up-to-date scientific data on the area and compliment existing studies.

In addition to the environmental studies, they assess the hydrodynamics and water flows of the bay, and will conduct an acoustic sediment estimation survey to provide current details on the sediment types.

This will give an accurate detail of pollution levels and help define the most efficient methods for the physical clean-up.

All this will help the rehabilitation of the coastal habitats as well as zoning all future activities within the bay by government agencies, private companies and the public.

"The importance of dealing with Tubli - a part of our national heritage - is appreciated by all parties involved, and we are working closely to ensure that greatest care is being given when considering plans to clean the bay. This will help minimise further disturbances and safeguard the surrounding residential areas," said Al Kalali.

The Works Ministry chairs the Steering Committee, and its members include senior representatives from PHE, the Municipalities and Agriculture Ministry, municipal councils, Public Commission for the Protection of Marine Resources, Environment and Wildlife, the Health Ministry, Bapco and the Industry and Commerce Ministry.

Sanitary Engineering assistant under-secretary Khalifa Almansoor, Municipal Council vice-president Abbas Mahfood, Works Ministry Sanitary Engineering Operation and Maintenance director Ebrahim Alhawaj, Cost Engineering director Khalid Alamer and PHE environment engineer Robin Shoneman were present. - TradeArabia News Service