More than BD130 million ($343.3 million) is still owed to Bahrain’s Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) in unpaid bills.

This was revealed yesterday (February 24) by Energy Minister Dr Abdulhussain Mirza, who told MPs that the problem would take 'years' to solve, reported the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

“We have no exceptions and everyone - whether individuals, companies or establishments - has to pay,” he said in response to a question by MP Nabeel Al Bulooshi, who asked if the EWA was no longer pursuing pending payments.

“The EWA has introduced installment plan to enable it to collect overdue bills, but it will take years to get the BD137 million owed.”

Dr Mirza added that new unified gas rates approved by the Cabinet last month will see the resource priced at $2.5 per one million heat energy unit for all new and existing projects starting April, reaching $4 in 2021 with an annual increase of 25 cents a year.

He said that investment would not be affected and household rates would remain the same.

Meanwhile Housing Minister Bassem Al Hamer, in response to questions from four MPs, promised thousands of new government homes over the next four years.

“We will have 750 homes in Buhair Valley, 302 in Hejayat, 1,560 homes in the first phase of the new Southern Town and 4,000 homes in the second phase as part of the Southern Governorate projects,” he said.

“Other plots are being sought and when acquired the number of homes built will be increased in the governorate.

“There are 3,560 homes in the new Al Ramli Town nearby Salmabad that we are planning to build in the Northern Governorate and 4,526 homes are expected in the new East Hidd Town in the Muharraq Governorate.”

In other news, parliament approved a Royal Decree yesterday to reform the Military Court and introduce specialised courts and prosecutions that would allow military personnel to appeal verdicts made against them and even seek cassation.

It will also see the establishment of a judiciary committee under the BDF that will look into administrative and disciplinary actions within the military.

Military personnel who participate in disturbances or political gatherings against the country's interests or acquire other nationalities while in service will also be subject to life imprisonment.

MPs spent around two hours discussing the issue of life sentence, before unanimously approving it and referring it to the Shura Council. - TradeArabia News Service