Ashghal accepts blame for Salwa Road flooding

The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has taken full responsibility for the flooding on two Salwa Road tunnels following heavy rains on March 26,  the Minister of Municipality and Urban Planning H E Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani said.

Addressing  a joint press conference with President of the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) Engineer Nasser Ali Al Mawlawi, the Minister said that three departments concerned at Ashghal should be held responsible for the inundation.  

He categorically stated that he didn’t find any mistake with the contracting or consulting firm involved in the project in this regard.

A high-level committee set up by the Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani to investigate the flooding earlier put the onus on Ashghal and the Salwa road project management. 

The committee also criticised the lack of an emergency and crisis management system at Ashghal and decided to set up an effective system in this respect.

“We found that the underground sewage pipes were overloaded (following the rains). Ashghal was supposed to find a solution either by disposing the water  to empty land or releasing it to sea. The issue is clear and there was an internal fault,” said the Minister.

He said that three departments at Ashghal — Assets, Highway and Consultancies section at the project department — should be held responsible for the flooding and they have already been informed about that.

“I dint find any mistake with the contracting or consulting firm. We have made the mistake and we learned from that,” said the Minister.

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