121 stray animals are confiscated in RAK

ras al khaimah — The department of public works in Ras Al Khaimah has seized 121 stray animals from various roads of the emirate, said an official.

In response to complaints from residents over stray animals causing accidents, the department had intensified inspection campaigns and Raqib patrols of the department had issued fines on 19 shepherds, according to Ahmed Hamad Al Shehi, manager of the department.

“The owners of these stray animals were asked to sign undertakings not to repeat the same violations again. If they are found repeating the violations, their animals will be confiscated forever and hefty fines will be imposed.”

The department has launched several campaigns to spread awareness about the grave risk of leaving animals unattended.

“The fines will be doubled and the animals will be handed over to charity societies for slaughtering in case of repeated violations. The meat will be contributed to low-income people in the emirate,” he added.

New barns have been built to keep the confiscated animals. “Some of these are at Al Jazirat Al Hamra, Shaam, Al Khiran, Suhail, Al Daqdaqa, Al Saedi and Shamal.”

Meanwhile, the department, during its inspections, had spotted 2,440 environmental violations across the emirate. “On top of these was littering in public places.”

Dumping waste materials from cars and leaving construction materials on the roadsides were among the anti-environment violations reported. “These violations distort the scenic beauty of the city.”

Recently, the department has increased the number of Raqib patrols to curb all types of antienvironment violations on the roads, parks and beaches of the emirate, Al Shehi stated.

The staff inspectors, who are judicially powered, are entitled to issue fines with immediate effect. “More inspectors are deployed on the beaches of the emirate and Jebel Jais — the highest peak in the country.”

Official records show that the Raqib inspectors fined 529 people on the beaches here for dumping plastic bags and bottles and burying barbecue coal in the beach sand. “These are added to 66 violations at the protected creeks.” ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com