Residents encouraged to fix the capital's eyesores

Abu Dhabi Municipality launches a community programme to brighten up the city and encourage residents to help fix eyesores such as graffiti, litter and potholes.

ABU DHABI // Abu Dhabi Municipality has launched a community programme to keep the brighten up the city and encourage residents to help fix eyesores in the capital such as graffiti, litter and potholes. The "Asematy" initiative will bring an air-conditioned, mobile tent to 11 neighbourhoods in the city, inviting members of the public to report and help clean up problem areas. The campaign launched this morning is under the patronage of Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the UAE General Women's Union. Members of the public can visit the tents to register any problems in their area and, if they wish, volunteer to get involved in cleaning it up. The first 125 sqm tent was opened to the public today in the Al Muroor area. The tent is expected to remain stationed in different sectors of Abu Dhabi for at least a month at a time, welcoming anyone who wishes to sign up as a volunteer to raise the city's image. Volunteers can do such work as repainting vandalized walls or helping to remove rubbish from neighbourhoods. "As a big city, we have to gather and take care of the city and encourage people to give their feedback to improve quality of life," said Abdullah al Shamsi, the municipality's acting executive director of infrastructure and assets. "This should be a mandate for each of us. It's not a matter of the municipality only; it's a chance for people to look after their neighbourhoods." The tent at Al Muroor is expected to remain for about two months. The 10 other areas for the tent have not yet been announced. [e-mail]