WAM Abu Dhabi, July 8th, 2012 (WAM) -- The Municipality of Abu Dhabi City has called upon landlords, tenants and occupants of residential buildings, villas, apartments and commercial premises across Abu Dhabi city to remove the satellite television dishes along with cable extensions; which are mushrooming in a haphazard manner on the walls, rooftops '&' balconies of these buildings.

The move is part of the Municipality's strategy for maintaining the cleanliness of the city, improving the overall appearance of the metropolis, enhancing the security '&' safety aspects, curbing the environmental pollution, promoting the environmental awareness of community members, and mustering the efforts of individuals in protecting '&' safeguarding the environment against all forms of pollution and distortion.

The Municipality notified property owners not to allow the installation of more than 4 satellite dishes on the rooftops of their buildings; which have to be positioned at a distance from the edges of walls in a way that will not disfigure the general appearance. It also cautioned them against installing these dishes at balconies of residential flats and villas.

The Municipality urged residents to cooperate and support its efforts in uprooting the practices undermining their safety '&' security, and stressed the need of curbing all disfiguring elements '&' offences undermining the distinctive appearance of Abu Dhabi City by removing them, reporting offences against violators, intensifying the community's participation, and heightening the awareness of residents of the risks posed by these phenomena to their security '&' safety.

Meanwhile, the Municipality has called upon firms and shops engaged in the installations '&' maintenance of satellite dishes along with the associated wiring to conform to the best international practices and adopt the public safety stipulations. It also made it clear that maintaining the health '&' safety of Abu Dhabi city residents is a strategic objective, and the Municipality will not tolerate the existence of a potential threat to the health '&' safety of occupants '&' tenants as well as property management staff and passers-by.

Improving the overall appearance of the city is of paramount importance to The Municipality of Abu Dhabi City incorporated in the Strategic Plan and is a key ingredient of the Buildings Improvement Plan; which falls under the elements for which the Municipality of Abu Dhabi City is responsible. Therefore, the installation of dishes and wiring along walls is an uncivilized practice that has to be eliminated, the civic body said.

The disorderly installation of satellite dishes and cables triggers the accumulation of dirt and turns them into hotbeds for the breeding of insects and rodents, besides damaging the waterproofing of the roofs in case the dish is fixed directly on the floor surface; which results in the leaking of the washing '&' rainwater into the highest floor, impacts the building structures, and hinders rescue operations in emergency cases.

WAM/AM