General Supervisor of the Rain Emergency Committee, Advisor to the Public Services Department in Ras Al-Khaimah, Ahmed Hamad Al-Shehhi, said that the most prominent challenges facing the department during its confrontation with heavy rains are encroachments on valleys and rainwater drainage networks, which exacerbate the crisis, and leads to water gathering and channel diversion The valleys off course.
He explained, to «Emirates Today», that the department monitored the encroachment of residents on the course of the valleys through the expansion of farms, and the establishment of unmarried houses and houses at the expense of the valley, and pointed out that the encroachments caused the deviation of the course of some valleys, which caused its flow in the incorrect path, and entry Water to homes.
He added that the impact of the Negev Valley on the residential area of Al-Fahalin was due to the strong flow of water in the valley, unlike in previous years, and pointed out that pouring rain water in the valley from one side, caused it to run strongly and enter the homes of citizens.
He pointed out that the department has developed temporary solutions in the Negev Valley, which include the distribution of water flow to three areas, namely: Wadi Negev in the area of Al-Fahalin, and the Al-Seh area so that the water of the valley is poured into empty lands and farms, and the Salhiya area so that the water of the valley is poured into the vast empty areas.
He added that the distribution of the Wadi Naqab stream will reduce the flowing force of the valley's water, and will significantly reduce the entry of torrents and water into the homes of citizens, as well as reduce the damage of rain in the residential area of Al-Fahalin, in addition to working extensively in the construction of the storage pit by teams working for Benefiting from it during the coming period, in the event of heavy rains and the flow of Wadi Negev, until its completion at the end of this year.
He explained that one of the challenges facing the work teams during the withdrawal of rain water is finding infringements in the course of rainwater drainage networks by some residents, which leads to clogging of networks, and the accumulation of water in roads and residential areas.
He pointed out that the work teams are continuously cleaning and maintaining rainwater drainage networks, to ensure continuous flow, reduce rainwater accumulation, and to facilitate the movement of vehicles on the roads.
He added that the work teams face difficulties, which are represented by the failure of drivers and members of society to comply with the instructions issued by the competent authorities, including risking and entering the valleys, entering rainwater-gathering areas, their vehicles failing, and some drivers insisting on entering mountain areas, despite the existence of obstacles related to the fall Rocks on the road.
New equipment and mechanisms
The General Supervisor of the Rain Emergency Committee and the advisor of the General Services Department in Ras Al-Khaimah, Ahmed Al Shehhi, explained that the department has recently acquired new equipment and mechanisms and a large pump to draw rain water in all regions of the emirate, and pointed out that the Rain Emergency Committee is on a daily basis to follow the state of meteorology, and On its basis, by distributing and deploying work teams, and distributing tankers and tanks in preparation for drawing rainwater as soon as it is collected in roads and low-lying residential areas.