Legal action could be taken over a telecom tower being erected at a luxury housing development in Bahrain.

It was reported last week that work was halted on one tower at the East Lagoon estate at Riffa Views by the Southern Municipality, which issued a notice stating that the required permission had not been granted.

Work on another tower in the Oasis estate of Riffa Views stopped last month after around 30 residents signed a petition, but resumed on Tuesday (June 23), said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

Fetooh Al Zayani, who owns a property in the Oasis development, told the GDN that residents now planned to take the matter to court.

“We have sent a legal notice to Riffa Views management, which they ignored, and we are filing an official legal suit next week,” she told the GDN.

“Work on the site started a month ago, but after a petition by 30 owners work was stopped and the materials were removed.

“Then they started the work in East Lagoon, where the residents objected and the work was halted.

“Now we see they have resumed work in our area, which is totally unacceptable.

“The site is right in the middle of our houses, which was supposed to be a garden and play area.

“The management has not responded to any of our communications, they are refusing to meet us or accept our calls.

The Riffa Views Home Owners Association is backing the work and a representative told the GDN that six towers in total were due to be erected to improve coverage in the area.

Permission was granted by the Supreme Council for Environment and the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), association safety and security representative Fahad Taqi said earlier.

Al Zayani revealed residents were told last week by the TRA that although it was responsible for issuing permits for such towers, it did not select the locations.

Bahraini homeowner Mohamed Al Jamea added residents had themselves been threatened with legal action by the company behind the telecom towers.

“Their lawyer came with their team two days ago and said he will bring the police to allow them to start work,” he said.

“We are being threatened by Riffa Views management, with their impolite e-mails, and such threats of police when it should be us (residents) bringing authorities to protect us.  

“I was offered the chance to buy the plot of land (now earmarked for the Oasis telecom tower), which is behind my house, and was told it was intended as a common area.

“Yet now, they (Riffa Views) have signed up with the telecom company without consulting us.

“I was a member of the Home Owners Association, but resigned after all these issues.”  

Indian homeowner and lecturer Rajani Ramachandran said residents were not opposed to telecom towers being erected, simply to the location.

“This is hardly metres from my doorstep,” she said.

“They could have put it anywhere on the periphery of the compound instead of right in the middle, which was supposed to be a common area and garden for children.

“We are worried about the health hazards, be it long term, and we don’t want to take a chance.”

Bahraini mother of two Shaikha Fai Al Khalifa said her daughters’ window opened onto the site where the tower is being erected.

“When we wish to build even a shade in our garden, we have to complete forms and seek permission – and we even have to seek the permission of our neighbours,” she said.  

Violation  

“Now the management has totally broken its own rules and shown its double standards.”

Meanwhile, fellow Bahraini homeowner Lubna Abdulaziz claimed the Home Owners Association had not informed residents about the plans.  “As per the by-laws, they should be communicating the minutes of meetings and decisions to us, which was not done,” she claimed.

“When they approved the proposal of the management, they did not consult the villa owners who are actually affected.”

Riffa Views management, the Home Owners Association, the TRA and the Southern Municipality could not be reached for comment yesterday. - TradeArabia News Service