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The residents of Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah are caught between a rock and a hard place. Economic growth and development are driving the demand for lime, cement, sand and other building materials necessary to build the strong foundations of a prosperous UAE.
Quarry owners are boosting production in a frantic effort to keep pace with the demands of development. The net result is that the environment and health of local residents is taking a back seat to business demands and pressures.
Earlier this year, we witnessed hundreds of Ras Al Khaimah residents forced to protest the activities of a quarry, blaming it for turning their neighbourhood into a dust land. Last week, Dr Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahd, Minister of the Environment and Water, carried out spot inspections, finding antiquated equipment in violation of safety, health and environmental safeguards. And yesterday we reported the disturbing case of Khor Khwair, once a thriving fishing village, now a dust pit spurned by those who once came to spend the summer there.
As local resident Saif Mohammad said, "I don't want to stop the development, but I don't want it to happen at the cost of my children's health."
We couldn't agree more: Quarry companies must adhere to the strictest health, safety and pollution standards. Now.
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