Sharjah: Sharjah is stepping up efforts to beautify the city with a little more cooperation from city residents, say municipality officials.
To ensure that the complexion of the emirate remains unmarred, as many as 50 municipal inspectors are working daily to keep Sharjah free from litter, prevent people from damaging public green spaces and hanging laundry on balconies.
It would appear that a full-time regimen of inspections is hitting the mark given that in the first six months of this year, municipal rule infractions dropped by 70 per cent as compared to the same period last year even as 12 clean campaigns were held to encourage the public to keep their home city bright and beautiful.
There had been only 441 instances of people violating public hygiene laws set by the municipality in this period.
In an interview with Gulf News, Mohammad Ali Al Kaabi, head of the City Cleanliness Section at Sharjah Municipality, said the results of the awareness campaigns prove the adage that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Al Kaabi said his department is focusing on educating residents rather than fining them as per the instruction of Thabit Salem Al Tarifi, director-general of Sharjah Municipality.
During Ramadan, for example, the cleanliness section handed out roughly 3,800 keep-it-clean brochures in multiple languages to the public.
The brochures urge community members to clean up public places after use, throw garbage and recyclables in proper bins, avoid playing in and damaging grassy public areas not designated for use and to avoid angling in no-fishing zones.
The department is also urging residents to refrain from the unsightly hanging of clothes and storing items on balconies.
To get the clean message out further, municipal staff have posted notices at the entrances of buildings, parks, beaches and tourist spots warning residents of possible violations before inspectors issue fines, he said.
Violations
Fishing in ‘No Fishing’ zones
Mohammad Ali Al Kaabi, head of the City Cleanliness Section at Sharjah Municipality, said although restrictions have officially been in effect for several years, areas such as the Corniche, Al Mamzar and Al Qasba strip remain popular with anglers.
But the municipality has vowed to get tough on anyone caught fishing in the no-fishing zones.
“These places are for tourists as well as residents to enjoy, and fishing in these areas tarnishes their image,” he said.
He said the emirate has enough designated areas along its coastline and waterfront to cater to professionals and amateurs alike or they can fish by venturing into the sea on boats.
So far this year, the municipality has issued fines of Dh300 each to 35 anglers.
Damaging public property
Al Kaabi said that in 2016, 35 persons were caught playing on grass and damaging public property.
During the first six months of this year, three people were fined Dh500 each for playing on grass not designated as a public park.
Washing cars in undesignated areas
Many residents wash their cars outside their homes in closed communities, in front of buildings or on streets, but this is not permitted in Sharjah.
Offenders will be fined Dh500 each.
Al Kaabi said in the first six months of this year, 675 such fines were issued, compared to 115 fines last year. He said there are a number of car wash stations licensed by the municipality and economic department.
He also warned car owners against displaying their cars for sale, noting that it can attract a fine of Dh1,000.
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