November 20, 2008, DUBAI - Dubai Municipality is cutting electricity and water supply in up to 200 villas a week that are illegally being shared, a senior official said yesterday. He added that the civic body plans to plan to extend the eviction campaign to other kinds of accommodation, including overcrowded apartments. Omar Mohammed Abdul Rahman, the head of the buildings inspection section at the municipality, said inspectors had identified 4,200 villas that violated the rules and housed shared families, reported The National Newspaper.

“We are cutting water and electricity services to at least 150 to 200 villas per week. The Dubai Municipality wants residents to follow instructions and move out so that we are not forced to cut off their water and electricity supply. Some people have moved out but others are still staying and it looks like they will move only when we take action against them.”

Rahman added that they will move to overcrowded apartments next. “Partitioning inside rooms, building extra bathrooms, kitchens or rooms is illegal without the permission of the municipality. Too many people living in flats is also unhealthy and bad for the environment.

“Our inspectors are surveying flats and if we notice overcrowding then we will start a similar campaign in flats as well.” Owners of overcrowded flats would be fined and water and electricity supplies would be cut.