Fifty dilapidated and abandoned houses in Musaffah will be demolished after inspectors declared them unfit for living, according to authorities. Demolition notices were given to landlords after municipal inspectors surveyed the abandoned and unoccupied buildings and made sure that such houses were no longer fit to accommodate people.

The Abu Dhabi Municipality has given a grace period to the owners to complete demolition procedures and bring down the old buildings. Officials said the move is intended to preserve the city's urban outlook and protect public health and safety. The municipality said the building removal campaign spotted the 50 properties which have been left unoccupied for many months.

The municipality said the dilapidated structures were distorting the outlook of residential districts and streets and had become incompatible with the urbanisation drive and the high-class tourist facilities in the city. The buildings had become a burden and a cause of inconvenience to residents due to the accumulated dust, waste and weeds as well as the proliferation of insects and rodents in a way that jeopardises the health and comfort of the inhabitants.

The civic body also urged landlords of abandoned buildings in various areas in Abu Dhabi and suburbs to cooperate with the municipality to obtain permits for demolishing those buildings as soon as possible.

Source: Khaleej Times