Some 480 environmental violations were detected in the country last year, the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) said in a statement yesterday.
The violations were spotted by the MME’s Environmental Protection, Reserves and Wildlife Department as part of efforts undertaken to protect the country’s environment, natural resources and marine life.
The offences included dumping debris and garbage in non-designated areas, disposal of sewage water in the open desert, hazardous dangerous materials without taking the necessary precautions, tampering with coral reefs, fishing with forbidden nets, breach of the ban on camel grazing in the open desert and excessive fishing, among others, the statement noted.
Omar Salim al-Nuaimi, director of the department, highlighted the efforts of land and marine patrols to prevent violations. He said the patrols worked round the clock across the country to ensure compliance with relevant laws and protection of the country’s land and marine environment.
Regarding the winter camping season, al-Nuaimi said there are 2,600 camps and all efforts are made to ensure that the campers comply with the rules and regulations. Legal procedures are initiated against those who are found flouting environmental laws and the matter is transferred to the competent authorities for necessary action, he observed.
The department has urged all companies and individuals in the country to co-operate with the MME to protect the land and marine environment by communicating with the environment operations room at 998.
Meanwhile, the MME’s Agricultural Affairs Department inspected 5,721 imported agricultural consignments in December last year, which weighed 86,798.2 tonnes, across all Customs posts in the country.
Of these, 29 consignments weighing 486 tonnes were destroyed for violating agricultural quarantine regulations.
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