Saturday 20 / April / 2024
Muscat: Volunteers have launched a local initiative to solve the problem of sand accumulation on a major transport route in Al Sharqiyah south.
Seasonal winds blowing from the south and the north bring sand onto Al Jawabi Al Suwaih road which usually leads to its closure.
A group of young volunteers have decided to plant trees to help resolve the issue.
Speaking to Times of Oman, Faisal Al Sinidi one of the volunteers said: “The campaign will include removing sand from the road and from its sides for about 50 metres, then we will prepare the land so that it will be suitable for planting wild trees. Afforestation is an ideal solution for the problem of sand crawling.”
“We decided to start the campaign to protect the lives of road users, both locals and tourists.” he added.
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According to the initiative organizers, the section of the road on which the sand is accumulated is 1 km long, and it will take at least two weeks for all the sand to be removed. The 33-kilometre-long Al Jawabi Al Suwaih road connects 20,000 residents and 15 villages with one another, but it is constantly shrouded in sand.
“The road is particularly important to the people of the wilayah as it links the centre with the coastal areas. It becomes even busier during the summer because of the influx of tourists who come to enjoy the cool weather on the wilayah’s beaches,” Al Sinidi said
“The Ministry of Municipalities has provided us with additional equipment for sand dredging, and we are in contact with the Ministry of Agriculture, looking for help in providing seedlings suitable for planting in the area.
“We have also approached the Public Authority for Water to supply water for the plants,” Al Sinidi added.
Video by Mohamed Al Ganboosi
