Sharjah Municipality has issued 418 warnings against violations at construction sites, an official has said.

In a report by Khaleej Times, Ahmed Abdul Rahman Al Jarwan, director of the building inspection department at the municipality, said that the civic body had carried out intensified inspections, targeting buildings under construction, so as to ensure the safety of residents.

The inspections were carried out following a number of complaints by residents, with the municipality receiving 274 complaints during the first quarter of the year at its call centre, Al Jarwan said. He added that the civic body immediately addressed the complaints by taking the necessary measures towards resolving them.

Sharjah Municipality is conducting inspection campaigns in the residential, commercial and industrial areas of the emirate to reduce the violations, Al Jarwan said, adding that major violations include poor condition of the temporary fence, lack of cleanliness onsite, presence of offsite materials or debris, existence of workers’ housing at the worksite, lack of advertising hoardings or incomplete data, and the failure to obtain tower crane permits.

In addition, he said that the inspections are also aimed at ensuring that all safety precautions are followed, including ensuring the validity of cranes and other tools used during construction, the installation of fencing, cleanliness of the site and wearing of personal protective equipment.

“The municipality would issue hefty fines for the violators in accordance with the regulations set up by the civic body. The municipality is keen to provide all the components of safety for workers and residents near the construction sites,” he added.

Al Jarwan pointed out that the municipality, during Q1 2019, witnessed a 5.3% growth in transactions related to construction sites, compared to Q1 2018. In the first quarter of this year, the municipality achieved 3,578 transactions, including 69 requests to add annexes to normal construction in residential and agricultural areas, he said.

Finally, the director stressed on the need for cooperation between contractors and consultants with the municipality to preserve the aesthetic appearance of Sharjah City.