Month: January 2009
Dubai Ruler promotes Lootah as director general of municipality
Dubai Ruler promotes Lootah as director general of municipality
By Ashfaq Ahmed, Chief Reporter GULF NEWS Published: January 07, 2009, 12:30
Dubai: The Quran Park, shaded walkways and rooftop greenery are some of the new projects approved by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Shaikh Mohammad approved the projects after his visit to Dubai Municipality where he was given a presentation on the projects by the civic body’s chief engineer Hussain Nasser Lootah.
Shaikh Mohammad also promoted Lootah, Acting Director-General of Dubai Municipality, to Director-General.
Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, was present on the occasion.
Lootah explained the components and targets of the vital projects including the Quran Park in Khawaneej. Shaikh Mohammad issued instructions to commence the implementation of the projects. He also approved the development of markets in remote areas.
Shaikh Mohammad expressed satisfaction with the efforts of the municipality and its capable Emirati employees.
The promotion came as a reward for the sincere efforts and constructive ideas of Lootah, who contributed to enhance the standard of civic services and oversaw the implementation of several ambitious projects.
Lootah expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the trust placed in him by Shaikh Mohammad.
He vowed that he would spare no effort to serve the nation and people. He noted that the municipality would go ahead and implement its development and service projects in the best interests of the nation.
As acting director-general of the Municipality, Lootah unveiled a strategic plan for the civic body (2007-2011) which was coordinated with the Dubai Strategic Plan for 2015.
His accomplishments during this period also included signing of twinning or partnership agreements with several cities worldwide including Barcelona (Spain), Busan (South Korea), Qingdao (China), and Lyon (France). He also signed strategic deals with local and federal agencies.
Works of impact
– Quran Park: The park to be built in the Khawaneej area will be the first educational cultural park of its kind. The 65-hectare park will be designed in a traditional way with pedestrian and cycling paths.
– Al Nahda and Al Mamzar Corniche developments: A pedestrian bridge will connect Al Nahda and Mamzar parks.
– Shaded pedestrian walks: The project aims to provide cool walkways for pedestrians on a number of open roads and markets.
Able administrator
Engineer Hussain Lootah has been appointed Director-General of Dubai Municipality.
As Acting Director General, Lootah managed the civic body, helped by a team of six assistants, who heads sectors consisting of 20 departments. Three departments and an independent office and section reported to him directly.
A civil engineering graduate from the US, Lootah began his career as an engineer with the Federal Ministry for Electricity and Water. He joined the municipality in 1985 as assistant head of a section, and was later promoted Drainage Department head.
He was appointed assistant director-general for Environment and Public Health Affairs with the departments of Public Health, Environment, Public Parks and Horticulture and Drainage and Irrigation reporting to him. In 2004, he was made the assistant director-general for Planning and Building Affairs to look after departments of the Planning and Survey, Building and Government Housing, Geographical Information Systems Centre and Statistics Centre.
Personal Note:
As a person who regularly participate in the HAVE YOUR SAY programme of Dubai Municipality and having been selected for the award from them for the last two years consecutively, I personally have very high regards for the efficient Administrative style and Innovative approach of Mr. Lootah. I wish him achieve many maure laurels in the coming years.
Ramesh Menon
08 01 2009
Visa medical centres witness big rush
Visa medical centres witness big rush
By Dina El Shammaa, Staff Reporter GULF NEWS Published: January 07, 2009
Abu Dhabi: Disease Prevention and Screening Centres in Abu Dhabi and Musafah under the Abu Dhabi Health Services (SEHA) are experiencing long queues of applicants after announcing that medical checkups for visas will be done by them only.
They will offer extra services to keep up with an average of 3,000 people a day since they opened on January 5, Gulf News was told.
The first day witnessed a long queue of approximately 3,000 visa seekers and the number increased the next day to 3,200.
Dr Zainab Khazaal, the centres’ manager, said that new and important steps are underway to ensure a smooth and fast experience for applicants.
One step is an express line for an extra Dh100 which will enable applicants to move rapidly through the process and this is due to begin in a few weeks.
Mobile clinics
“The procedure of taking the blood test, an X-ray and a general examination shouldn’t take more than half an hour in the express line,” she said.
Mobile clinics will also be introduced between June and September which will perform medical tests at a person’s doorstep.
The long queues in the last few days were due to the time of the year, said Zainab. “It’s the beginning of January, the beginning of the week and after a long vacation when both private and public companies were off, the large volume numbers were expected.”
Hours
Before introducing medical checkup options for visa applicants, the centre operated from 7am to 3pm five days a week.
The timings increased from 7am to 6pm by November and again an extra hour was introduced in January (from 7am to 7pm six days a week, and on Saturdays by appointment only).
Ramesh Menon, who works in his company’s paperwork legalisation process, said one of his co-workers arrived at the centre at 9am on Monday and waited in line without success.
“The next day she made it a point to reach the centre at 6.30am…she managed to finish everything by 11am, which given the pressure the centre is undergoing, is perfectly understandable,” Menon said.
Availability
List of personnel
Staff members in the Abu Dhabi and Musafah Disease Prevention and Screening Centres:
– 15 screening physicians
– 13 X-ray technicians
-32 blood collection and laboratory staff
-30 clerks
UK scholarship for maid’s daughter
UK scholarship for maid’s daughter
Kiran Wadhwa, Hindustan Times Mumbai, January 08, 2009
Varalaxmi Pillai can probably be the best brand ambassador for Mumbai as the city of dreams. This 21-year-old’s luggage occupies quite a bit of her tiny Kanjurmarg house.
She is preparing for her first trip abroad. She will be flying to London to start her one-year masters programme in international management, something that no one in her family had ever dreamed of. Her father, a factory worker, passed
away when she was five and her mother worked as a domestic help.
Two months ago she filled out an application for the University of Westminster with her qualifications and wrote out an essay with her goals. “All through my study years I had to depend on others for my textbooks and occasionally even clothes but now I my dreams have been realised,” she said.
After her father’s death, Meher Moos, India’s intrepid traveller now a consultant with Thomas Cook, became her guardian and helped get her funds for her education. They were borne largely by the Thodumal Shahani Trust and other beneficiaries.
She is also one of the first to receive the Sheriff’s Scholarship, which was instituted by Sheriff Indu Shahani in collaboration with universities in the UK and US.
Gulf News bags environment award
By Emmanuelle Landais, Staff Reporter 06 January 2009
Dubai: The “Go Green” campaign has earned Gulf News a prestigious award for its coverage of environmental pollution, events and initiatives in the UAE.
The Outstanding Environmental Publication award will be presented to Gulf News next week as part of the Environment, Health and Safety Awards 2008 organised by the Ports, Customs and Freezone.
The newspaper has been recognised for its continuous efforts to create awareness about environmental issues. It carried articles on the environment and engaged in public outreach and dialogue with readers.
Gulf News Editor-in- Chief Abdul Hamid Ahmad said the award was appreciated and environmental issues here and internationally will continue to be reported on.
Gulf News initiated the “Go Green” campaign on the heels of its “Say No To Plastic Bag” drive, which supported the reduction in use of plastic in daily life.
During eight months of awareness-building within the community, jute bags were distributed to its readers.
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