No excuse, Dh500 fine if you litter scenic Al Qudra lake
dubai— Next time you litter or leave your tent behind at Al Qudra lake, think again as litterbugs will now be slapped with a Dh500 fine by the Dubai Municipality (DM), Khaleej Times has learnt.
The civic body’s waste management Department will intensify its stand against those who litter after a considerable amounts of waste continues to be dumped at Al Qudra lake despite adding more trash cans, signboards and hiring more cleaners.
Khaleej Times previously reported people’s concerns about the few trash cans in Al Qudra Lake and how visitors of the lake expressed disappointment due to the waste dumped in the lake and around the area.
Over 200 trash cans and containers have been added in different areas of Al Qudra lake with 20 cleaners cleaning up the place, preserving its natural scenery.
“We responded to the residents’ claims about the few trash cans and signboards at the lake. Now there is no excuse to litter,” said Abdul Majeed Sifai, director of waste management department, about the lake area that is home to as many as 175 species of birds, including some endangered ones.
He added that inspectors will keep a record of the cars present across the different areas of the lake, and if any trash or litter was found left behind, the Dh500 fine will be tagged on car number plate. The amount will double every time a similar violation is committed across Dubai.
“We tried to avoid fining people as much as possible, but we noticed that the condition continued getting worse as the place continues to attract more visitors,” noted Sifai.
Khalid Mohsen, head of the operation and cleaning service section, said usually up to 2,000 bags of trash are collected on weekends by the municipality workers.
“Littering goes up especially during weekends as we witness more visitors flocking to the place. Many people stay in overnight camps, and then leave their tents behind,” said Mohsen, noting that the DM also plans to add more cleaners and inspectors on different shifts.
“Our cleaners struggle as visitors litter overnight and then more visitors come next morning. We have no choice but to impose fines on violators to reduce the habit of littering that destroys the beauty of the place,” said Mohsen.
Dirty lakes main challenge
Meanwhile, Al Sifai noted that the biggest challenge that the department is facing is littering in the lake itself, which destroys the marine environment that attracts migratory birds and endangers their life.
“Even when cleaners go into the water, the marine environment that took very long to establish becomes distorted with time,” he said. Al Sifai urged families to watch over their children and instill the right habits of keeping the environment clean. He emphasised the role the community has on preserving the environment and appreciating the work of cleaners.
Recently, the Waste Management Department intensified its awareness campaigns to emphasise the importance of community service. “An hour with a cleaning worker” saw the participation of 345 volunteers from eight government and private entities who helped clean desert areas and public spaces, including Al Qudra lake. More than 600 trash bags were collected throughout the campaign.