MANAMA: A long-term ambitious project to build a multi-million dinar 23km causeway linking Hawar Islands to Bahrain’s mainland is to be discussed by members of Southern Municipal Council today.

The parliamentary proposal has been referred by Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Minister Essam Khalaf to the authority as part of a plan to collate a general consensus for MPs to consider.

One option under consideration is to construct a bridge stretching from the furthest point in the south of Bahrain – Ras Al Bar – to the northwest corner of Hawar.

The government has already included funding in its 2019-2020 national budget to place electricity cables, protected by a secure pathway on the seabed, to the coastal haven from the mainland.

However, Parliament’s public utilities and environment affairs committee believes that a causeway, above the power connections, would be a better project.

“I’m all for the causeway concept,” said area councillor Hezam Al Dossary. “It could be expanded in future to have a metro connection too,” he added.

“This kind of project could take a decade to finalise through consultation and finding funding solutions but I believe the causeway would be worth it as we promote Hawar Islands as an attractive tourism destination.”

Eco-tourism focuses on local cultures, wilderness adventures, volunteering, personal growth and learning new ways to live on our vulnerable planet. It is typically defined as travel to destinations where the environment and cultural heritage are the primary attractions.

Hawar Islands, currently vying for World Heritage Site status, certainly fits the bill with a protected nature reserve attracting thousands of migratory birds, as well as rare marine species such as the dugong.

Qatar previously claimed ownership of the islands but an International Court of Justice ruling in 2001 confirmed they belonged to Bahrain.

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