1116 families exempted from municipal charges

Manama, June 29 (BNA): In line with the directives of His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa to alleviate the burden of living and in accordance with the Cabinet resolution equalising Bahraini tenants with homeowners regarding municipal fees; the Minister of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning, Essam bin Abdullah Khalaf, issued Ministerial Edicts 39, 40 and 41/2015 canceling and/or reducing municipal charges from 1116 Bahraini families who do not own a private home and who live in rented property. Undersecretary for Municipal Affairs in the ministry, Dr. Nabil bin Mohammed Abulfateh, said these edicts come in implementation of the leadership's intent to provide dignified livelihood to all citizens through the reduction of the burden of living by lowering municipal fees commensurate with the needs of these citizens and also exempting some low income earners from fees in future or writing off their unpaid debts. Dr. Abulfateh said citizens tenants who will benefit from the exemption or reduction of municipal charges will be able to obtain trash bags on monthly basis according to Ministerial Edict 18/2006. The undersecretary said Edict 39/205 reduces the monthly municipal charges for a total number of 1085 Bahraini families. He added that Edict 40/2015 cancels outstanding arrears for a number of 6 indebted families and Edict 40/2015 exempts 25 indebted families from their prescribed monthly fees. The relevant municipality shall notify the beneficiaries from the exemption and reduction of municipal charges and the date of its validity for each beneficiary. The undersecretary said there is continuous coordination between Municipal Affairs and the Directorate of Customer Services in EWA to modify the municipal charges for these families in their relevant electricity bills in compliance with the abovementioned ministerial edicts.