MUSCAT : The meeting was chaired by His Excellency Engineer Masoud bin Saeed Al Hashimi, Governor of South Al Batinah Governorate and Chairman of the Municipal Council. Members approved the minutes of the council’s ninth meeting for 2025 and hosted Nasser bin Salem Al Ghanbousi, Director General of the Directorate General of Education in the governorate, to discuss key issues related to the education sector.

As part of efforts to support sustainable tourism, the council received a visual presentation from the Heritage and Tourism Department outlining procedures for obtaining licences for guesthouses and green lodges across the governorate.

The council also examined broader development themes, including a study on strengthening oversight of animal feed grass products in shops and farms, and plans to identify service, commercial and industrial sites for villages and areas located far from city centres. In addition, members reviewed the 2025 annual report and a report on field visits to projects in Barka by the Governorate Development and Improvement Committee.

At the wilayat level, the council in Nakhl discussed creating a residential planning pocket in Wadi Mistal, allocating land for Al Majd Sports Team, addressing road potholes along the Al Abyad–Afi–Khubbat Al Qadan route, and studying a proposal to change the use of endowment land belonging to the Allama Saeed bin Bashir Mosque in Al Abyad.

In Barka, discussions included allocating land for residential and service planning in northern Al-Sumhan, creating a residential planning pocket in Al-Uqda, constructing canopies at student gathering points near schools in Abu Al-Nakheel, and providing equipment to level a sports team field.

The council in Al-Awabi reviewed plans to develop farm layouts and livestock pens, alongside proposals to designate tourist lands in Al-Hajir village.

In Rustaq, members discussed installing ground speed-reduction lines near Al-Murabba roundabout for vehicles coming from Aqabat Al-Rustaq, establishing a Civil Defense Centre in Wadi Bani Ghafir, and proposals to improve the Rustaq market area.

The council in Al-Musannah considered allocating land for a nature park, addressing the impact of adjacent farms on internal roads, and removing electrical poles located in front of shops and car showrooms.

Meanwhile, in Wadi Al Maawil, the council reviewed a request to include the dual carriageway linking Barka and Wadi Al Maawil towards Al Ajal and Halban in the upcoming road paving plan. Proposals to establish a health walkway in the Musallamat area and an integrated cultural centre in the wilayat were also discussed.

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