Doha: The Department of Protection and Wildlife at the Ministry of Municipality and Environment has recorded 393 violations of some provisions of environmental law during 2019.
The violations included throwing wastes at unauthorised places, drifting on soil, grazing camels on prohibited pastures, hunting prohibited birds, cutting trees illegally and dumping sewerage water and cement wastes at undesignated areas, said the Ministry in a recent report.
The municipal inspectors of the Department also issued 217 warnings against environmental violations, caught 11 violations related to stone crushers and made three confiscations following the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
The Department deployed special patrolling teams across the country to protect the green land and environment of the country. A hotline 998 was also issued for citizens and expatriates to report to the Department if they come across any type of environmental violation.
Speaking at an event earlier, Omar Salem Al Nuaimi, Director of the Department of Protection and Wildlife, had said that the Department deployed eight patrolling teams of inspectors to cover all areas across the country.
He said that the Department intensified inspection campaign to curb the violations of environment. Al Nuaimi said that the awareness campaign played key role in educating people - citizens and expatriates - about the importance of protecting the environment.
He said that the environment protection is also a social responsibility as each member of the community is accountable to throw the wastes at designated places and to make his/her contribution in protecting the greenery.
Qatar, represented by the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, attaches great importance on protecting the environment, preserving its natural resources and developing it for the future generations, within the framework of the Ministry’s sustainable strategic plan and Qatar National Vision 2030.
During the year 2018-19, the Ministry of Municipality and Environment made many achievements in various environmental fields, which were represented in the field of natural reserves, in the formal approval of the administrative plan for the Al Reem Reserve which was declared by Unesco as natural reserve, and the start of field work for the team on the project to release the bustard ( a endangered species of bird locally called Habari ) and Reem gazelles in the Al Reem Reserve.
The citizens were encouraged to acquire the Arabian Oryx and the Reem gazelle, to involve them in preserving wildlife and supporting the lovers of these species. The establishment of two reserves in the South has also been completed to provide and regularize the practice of hunting hobby in specific seasons.
