Muscat: The infrastructure projects in Duqm were not affected by the tropical storm Hikaa, a top government official has confirmed. 

Speaking to the media, Dr Ismail bin Ahmed al Balushi, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Special Economic Zone Authority at Duqm (SEZAD) said that the Port of Duqm, Dry Dock, Duqm Airport, tourism projects and main roads were not affected by the heavy rain and winds.

He confirmed that the dams built by SEZAD held large quantity of water, which has been afterward absorbed by the drainage channels and smoothly drained into the sea. “Therefore, all other infrastructure projects at the Special Economic Zone were protected by these dams.”

Al Balushi visited a number of sites in the wake of Hikaa, so that an assessment over any damage – however minimal – could be conducted.  

The work in the port and the dry dock and other projects returned to normal with the beginning of this morning has resumed their work normally, whether in the dry dock or the port or other projects in the region,” he said.

The acting CEO also thanked the efforts of emergency services that had been deployed to deal with the damage caused by Hikaa to the Wusta Governorate, as well as the Governor of Duqm and other public bodies, who had selflessly stayed on alert from the time the cyclone was announced, until it passed.

Regarding the road leading to the Chinese Industrial City and Karwa project, which was affected by the heavy rains, Dr Balushi said that the road referred to is a secondary one.

“However, the contractor and consultant were directed today [Wednesday] to accelerate reconstructing the road, while all other roads in the Zone were not affected at all,” he added.

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