Cleanliness law awareness drive begins

The implementation of the cleanliness law has edged one step closer as an education campaign was launched yesterday. Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry’s Undersecretary Shaikh Mohammed bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Khalifa inaugurated the workshop, which was presented by legal adviser Ali Ghanem Al Binali. Shaikh Mohammed said that the workshop was held to clarify all doubts about the implementation of the law.

“The law of cleanliness is one of the most important laws for the Kingdom.”   “The law takes into consideration many aspects. The law prevents dumping waste anywhere except for in the appropriate places. “The law also obliges residence owners, office owners, establishments and industrial shops to keep their waste in tight containers,” he said. The cleanliness law is expected to soon come into force as the authorities are expected to finalise legal procedures for it in coming months.

The ministry is soon expected to launch awareness campaigns about the new cleanliness law that will be implemented as the ministry is in the final stages of its regulations for the law. In May His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa ratified and issued Law 10/2019 regarding public cleanliness after it was endorsed by the parliament. The law was passed in the parliament and Shura earlier this year imposes fines up to BD300 for cleanliness violations.

Littering, urinating or spitting are some of the violations that will be heavily penalised under the new law. The law imposes higher fines of up to BD 1000 for transporting garbage or dangerous substances without a license. However the law requires the Minister of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Minister Essam Khalaf to draw up executive bylaws before it can be published in the Official Gazette.

According to an official from the Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry the regulations will be finalised in September. He said that the the by-laws were presented to 13 government bodies, municipal councils.