Around 190 people were fined and over 110 were warned in the first four months of the year in Dubai for illegal practices that damage the cleanliness and environment of the emirate, the Dubai Municipality has said.

 

The Environment Emergency Office at the Environment Department of the Municipality issued 189 fines related to environment violations in the past four months, marking a 67 per cent increase compared to the figures last year. Also, some 113 warnings were issued regarding various violations during the report period, the civic body said on Sunday.

 

In a media statement, the municipality informed that the Environmental Emergency Office (EEO), which has played a major role in maintaining cleanliness and environmental safety in the emirate, has now been detached from the Environment Department and will be functioning under the Public Health and Safety Department of the civic body.

 

Khalid Suleitine, who heads the EEO said the Dubai Municipality is keen on adopting policies, enforcing laws as well as fielding public awareness drives to promote, support and encourage activities that ensure environmental protection in the emirate of Dubai.

 

As part of this, the EEO has been constantly trying to protect sea waters, desert areas and the Dubai creek, he said.

 

For this purpose, the office has carried out several campaigns to educate the public on the importance of protection of water resources, he explained.

 

EEO is carrying out inspections on bachelor-populated areas of Dubai to make them aware of keeping the resources clean and safe from all kind of contaminants, he added.

 

Visits are also done to industrial areas to monitor the conditions of rain water-ways and to check the unscientific disposal of grease and oil as well as chemicals which may affect the natural resources badly.

 

Drives to remove polluted soil and to plant trees in industrial areas were also done as part of the office’s activities.

 

Coastal areas as well as embankments of water resources are strictly monitored systematically to check illegal and unscientific fishing.