Business & Finance Club - Manama : Work on a BD1.8 million ($4.77 million) state-of-the-art aqua park in Manama is set to begin early next year, it has been announced.

The Municipalities and Agriculture Affairs Ministry should have started work on the massive park early this year, but it was delayed due to various problems.

Manama Municipal Council members had wanted the Ayn Qasari Aqua Park taken away from its current investor, who is still operating it even though his contract expired in 2004.

The investor has since been refusing to leave and pledged to take the matter to court.

Meanwhile, the new project should have been tendered in January, but budget shortages meant a bidder wasn't chosen until earlier this month.

However, an agreement has been reached with the old investor, who is now willing to leave a month before work on the new park begins, according to the council.

Ayn Qasari used to be one of Bahrain's historical natural water springs, which have now dried up due to negligence.

The new park will include theme and aqua rides, restaurants and coffee shops, family resting areas and a walkway.

It will also include various sculptures that portray the fairy tales and fables the area used to be famous for like a dragon, a snake, a frog, a turtle, a seahorse, a butterfly and two different types of fish.

'We are very happy that this project is back on track as all associated problems that have led to its delay have been cleared,' said council financial, administrative and legislative committee chairman Sadiq Al Basri, who is seeking another term in office in this month's elections.

'Now the investor, who was once refusing to leave and insisted on taking the case to court, has willingly agreed to leave the place a month before actual work begins.

'The ministry is on its way to finalise the required budget, which saw shortages due to modifications to the original plan that we reviewed and found to be more fascinating than the previous designs presented to us.

'The project is set to start early next year and this time there will be no delays. Hopefully a section of the park will be open to the public by the end of next year as work on the place continues until completion in 2012.'