Temporary wooden fencing banned in Al Ain

The civic administration has banned the use of temporary wooden fencing at construction sites saying metal enclosures should be used instead as they are reusable and environment friendly. The ban covers all activities that need temporary fencing including construction and maintenance projects, agriculture, sanitation, and other works carried out with the permission of the Department of Building Permits and the Town Planning Department, an official of Al Ain Municipality said yesterday. Khalfan Mohammad Al Murar, the head of the municipality's Department of Sustainable Development, said the initiative followed a review of the current practices. The use of metal fencing in different projects in Al Ain will help cut down carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 33,000 tonnes annually. Specifications He said metal fencing can be reused with little waste creation while wooden panels break up generating waste. Only 20 per cent of the wooden fencing can be reused, he added. Metal fences, Al Murar said, will also not hurt the city's good looks and help preserve natural resources for future generations. Another benefit of using reusable metal fencing is reduction of pressure on landfill sites as the waste generated declines. Fahd Al Nuaimi, the head of inspection section at the Town Planning Department, said the civic administration has developed specific measurement, colour, and configuration for the metal fencing.