The Central Municipal Council (CMC) could not achieve anything remarkable during its three long terms. The fourth one is going to end after two years.
The sessions of the Council are being held without any significant results, which has disappointed the voters, who have been showing their trust in their candidates for 14 years.
Services and facilities provided to the municipalities meet neither the aspirations and expectations of the residents of these areas nor the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030. The CMC is considered one of the important and effective tools in implementing the vision.
Perhaps the appeal of the CMC Chairman, Saud bin Abdullah Hamad Henzab, to the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, to activate the law of the Council and grant its members support so that the Council can play its role effectively and make some radical changes to fulfil the ambitions of the citizens. It might be a confession from the chairman, who is the highest authority in the Council, that obstacles are being faced by the members in discharging their duties.
In other words, he wants to say, O Emir! “We propose to provide all necessary services all over the country, but the Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning does not listen to us; our proposals are being kept in the archive of the office of the Minister.”
If the Council is unable to provide what the citizens want, like necessary services and facilities and development plans for their areas, it loses its credibility and legitimacy and appears useless. The voters will then be reluctant to take part in the next election, and this is expected to reduce the voting percentage.
Among the dozens of files covered with dust in the drawers of the desk of the minister is one on the project Modern Doha “Majlis Al Furjan” (Council in residential areas). It was proposed by Jassim Al Malki, a CMC member.
The project was proposed in 2005 and allocation of land in Al Dafna was approved in 2007, at the end of the second term of the council.
After a while, Ashghal built two buildings at that place at a cost of QR5m. Both buildings are ready and awaiting approval from the ministry to open, despite the fact that it is a key project that aims to strengthen social ties and gather citizens in one place where they can talk with each other, especially the retirees and senior citizens.
It is one of many projects that, unfortunately, could not be delivered by the ministry, despite the fact that it was much needed and it might achieve its goals. If the situation of CMC remains as it is, I can propose that people should forget the Council.
So far, neither the Advisory Council nor the Central Municipal Council have met our ambitions, but we are eying the coming parliament.
