State approves draft law banning littering of private places
A draft law was approved by the State Cabinet yesterday which, once in effect, will ban littering or dumping of waste in private places as well, such as near homes, and buildings and in parking lots.
The draft seeks to replace a 42-year-old legislation which bans littering in public places and dumping of waste in places that are not designated by the authorities for the purpose.
It also retains most provisions of the existing legislation and adds some new ones and, perhaps, increases penalties for many violations.
According to The Peninsula, the draft law seeks to replace Law No. (8) of 1974 on public hygiene as part of updating the legislation.
It goes on to prohibit dumping, abandoning and waste disposal in public places, squares, roads, streets, lanes, alleys, pavements, courtyards, public gardens and parks, beaches, land space, rooftops, on the walls, balconies, skylights, corridors and yards, facades of houses and buildings and car parks and other places, whether public or private.
It also prohibits to leave or dump waste in areas not designated by the municipality concerned for the purpose.
The draft also prohibits leaving animals or birds in places that are not licensed to keep or breed animals and birds.
The municipality is authorized to ensure public hygiene in all its forms, including waste collection, transfer, discharge, disposal and recycling within its jurisdiction.
The municipality may also let a contractor implement all or some of these operations in accordance with the provisions of the law. The contractor shall be responsible for the garbage collectors.
It wil be interesting to see what the municipality outsources
It is good to know that such rules are being implemented, but yes most of these rules apply only to expats (Don't know why?). Recently there was a rule made for not smoking in public places. I am from Muidher and I still see people smoking freely in front of buildings, shopping malls & footpaths as if they have been given the license to do so (Don't understand why the authorities don't see this?). One will find thousands of cigarettes, spits and other waste here. Footpaths are meant for walking, but I hardly find a free footpath. They are all occupied by vehicles (Is there a rule for this?). Zebra crossing is hard to find here and sometimes I am scared of crossing the road from any where thinking that I may get fined. I really appreciate the laws that is being made by the cabinet, but are the people of Qatar following this or the authorities making sure if it is being followed?. It rained couple of days back here, but there are still water logs in some places of Muidher. I wonder why it is still not addressed?
These laws are meant to be imposed on expats...
The "law" about NOT washing your car with drinking water isn't implemented either. My two Qatari neighbors, one on each side, wash their five cars daily! (With drinking water). Nobody cares.
It's about time. Some back-streets in Doha simply stink. However, I doubt that the law will be implemented. It would hit too many locals!