*Campaign to create awareness to be run for whole year
HE the Minister of Municipality and Environment Mohamed bin Abdullah al-Rumaihi has instructed all municipalities to strictly implement Law No. 18 of 2017 on public hygiene, which came into force on February 1.
The law is meant to deter violators, curb misconduct and malpractices that violate the public hygiene system in the country.
During a meeting with municipal directors and heads of public hygiene departments and other officials including inspectors, the minister stressed the importance the government gives to the maintenance of public hygiene as a complement to the urban and aesthetic image of cities. Qatar has been undergoing comprehensive urban development and the public hygiene law was issued on October 23 with a view to keeping the country clean and healthy.
The minister called upon the municipal directors to follow up on the implementation of the new hygiene law by supervisors and inspectors of the concerned department. He said senior officials have to ensure the presence of inspectors at various locations to monitor any violations of the law and to take legal action against offenders. The minister advised the senior officials to help the inspectors overcome any obstacle they might face during the enforcement of the law and ensure proper discharge of their duties.
He stressed that the inspectors are the tools to enforce the law. "They have all the powers and they should not tolerate negligence when violations found," he said, adding that the authority of the inspectors are valid in all the regions of the country and not limited to the geographical boundaries of their respective municipalities.
"In addition, municipal officials should conduct regular as well as surprise inspection campaigns to curb any potential violations of the law."
The minister pointed out that the goal of implementing the law was not to impose sanctions and collect fines, but to reduce the violations so as to make the environment and surrounding clean, saying that this will be achieved only through creating awareness among the public about the importance of hygiene. He also called for the use of different languages to reach all segments of the residents.
Al-Rumaihi said the comprehensive awareness campaign using the different mediums should continue for the entire year. "The awareness efforts will be accompanied with the strict enforcement of the law."
During the meeting, Director of General of Cleanliness Department Safar Mubarak al-Shafi made a presentation on the new hygiene law and reviewed the violations and penalties included in the law as well as the procedures of reconciliation with violators of the rules.
Al-Rumaihi attending the meeting of municipal officials.
