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Al-Ahram Weekly 10 - 16 June 1999 Issue No. 433 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 10 - 16 June 1999 Issue No. 433
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Bridges and crowns
Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Profile Features Books Living Travel Sports Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Sir-I have been watching, from my balcony, the Arab Contractors working on the extension of the 15 May bridge, to ease the traffic to the 26 July Corridor. They work neatly, systematically and efficiently, and definitely progressively! I remember watching them about 30 years ago, building the bridge itself. Though we were upset about the project -- replacing a beautiful garden by a flyover with its traffic, noise and pollution -- one could only respect the way it was carried out. One could feel that there was a system. Then, the drilling system was different and our house would shake with every bang. Nowadays we are barely disturbed by the sound of their machines. We only notice the progress, and many small details, of which I will mention only a few.
Temporary facilities are built on the work site to make the workers comfortable. Individuals, even at the most junior levels, are respected.
Enough signs, lights, fences, etc. are placed to prevent accidents.
Their yellow fences are washed regularly and are kept clean.
Egypt is rich nowadays with excellent contracting firms, one better than the other. This gives one pride as an Egyptian. I only mention the Arab Contractors as an example and because I watch them working.
I have two questions at this point:
1) When the present extension is finished, is there a plan for the maintenance of the 15 May Bridge? I cross on foot from the Balloon Theatre to Zamalek. The pavements are eroded. They have become dangerous for pedestrians, especially at night.
2) This one has nothing to do with the Arab Contractors: when are we going to put on trial those responsible for letting the traffic start on the bridge before it was ready? As we can see, the asphalt etc. is being redone from scratch! How can we allow the loss of millions of pounds when the country needs every piastre? More importantly, what about the lives that have been lost through such negligence? Painful questions awaiting serious answers.
Reine Naggar
Agouza
Health hazard
Sir-There is no smoke without fire, and nowadays no fire without garbage -- which is piling up in every nook and cranny of the city. Garbage heaps are self-igniting, so sometimes the fires are accidental, but more frequently people are resorting to burning garbage as this seems to be the only way to "dispose" of it.
These mountains of waste, apart from being visually disturbing, are seriously detrimental to our health, and much more so when they burn. What to do? Every one can and should do something. Our community group in the Doqqi/Mohandessin area have set up a plan which we would like to share with your readers. Target any garbage heap in the area and report it to the cleaning and beautification authorities -- find out why the heap exists, who is responsible, and organise its regular prompt removal. The object of the exercise is obviously to get rid of the heap permanently but also to show that there is a serious problem requiring immediate action. Overpackaging causes unnecessary waste; encourage people to recycle and reuse (we have set up garbage separation in a couple of areas). Don't use plastic carrier bags, resort to cloth (they can be reused), and lessen the possibility of discarding plastic in heaps which could eventually go up in flames. Finally, remember that any action will go a long way.
Sohailah El-Sawy
Mohandessin
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