Manama: Divers from Kuwait’s Environmental Voluntary Foundation (EVF) have lifted 16 tonnes of plastic waste littering Al Sulaibikhat beach.
Walid Al Shatti, in charge of the team of divers who carried out the clean-up operation, told Kuwait News Agency (Kuna) on Wednesday that the divers worked for four days to collect the plastic waste and other items, including bags and cans, dropped by ships and boats.
Warning that such harmful acts affected the coastal environment, particularly the birds and sea life, Al Shatti called for adopting tougher measures and penalties against those who litter the coasts with damaging materials.
“Moreover, the EVF has monitored attacks on coastal birds,” he said. “We have warned that all acts of pollution and the targeting of the birds affect the lives of various animal species living in Kuwait Bay.”
The official said that he was thankful to the municipality and the ministry of health for their help in cleaning the environment.
Kuwaiti authorities have been pushing actively for safeguarding the national environment.
On Tuesday, officials from the Ministry of Interior and the Environment Public Authority (EPA) discussed the establishment of a special squad called “Environment Police.”
The police are expected to be ready within two years following the formal adoption of some legislative measures.
The squad will be in charge of taking action against any perpetrator of any hazard or act harmful to the environment or public health.
The EVF, along other national bodies and authorities, has been actively involved in diverse activities to protect the Kuwaiti environment and to combat harmful acts and negative behaviour such as littering the beaches and the seabed.
Its teams have previously lifted sunken boats, waste and other items from various locations at sea and on harbours.
