Civic body calls for a helping hand

Dubai: A perceived lack of responsibility on the part of residents and commercial enterprises in keeping their neighbourhoods clean has prompted the Dubai municipality to launch an awareness campaign in the emirates.

The first such initiative, launched in the congested Naif area last year under the slogan "Say Yes, to a Clean Naif", proved very successful.

The campaign will be extended to communities in Al Ghubaibah, Al Sabkha, Al Karama, Al Qusais and Al Qouz. Flyers promoting the clean-up drive were distributed to shop-owners and residents near Al Fahidi Street which is currently the focus of the campaign.

Launching the campaign at a specially designated location in front of Astoria Hotel in Al Fahidi Street, Hussain Nasser Lootah, director general of Dubai Municipality, said the clean-up drive aimed to rid the city of unhealthy practices that sullied its vibrant image.

Residents in the area were reminded about general cleanliness and urged not to throw dirt, cigarette butts and other refuse on the roads and to stop spitting in public. People were also urged not to hang clothes out to dry on their balconies.

Abdullah Rafia, assistant director, environment and public health, Dubai Municipality, said: "As a civic body our staff is already doing their job by keeping the city clean but that is not enough. We need people to join hands with us in making sure that neighbourhoods are maintained clean."

Rafia said that the public had to be reminded that keeping the city and neighbourhood clean is their responsibility as well. "This is where the importance of a clean-up awareness campaign comes into focus," he said.

The environment drive will involve people from various strata of society through various activities including road shows and long-term social programmes aimed at educating the public.

The public awareness campaign also includes advertisements in the print and broadcast media. The municipality has already started publishing advertisements in newspapers in different languages and has put up outdoor advertisements on Al Fahidi Street.

A Clean Store Contest flagged off on March 22 will be on till April 21. The winners will be judged based on general cleanliness at the establishment, steps taken to restrict eating, drinking and smoking, the owners' efforts to reduce the use of plastic bags, steps taken to avoid display of goods outside the stores, and endeavours to clean up out litter on pavements.

Road shows will raise awareness until April 21 with 12 dedicated volunteers sporting shirts bearing the campaign logo. Stilt walkers and stage shows will give added impetus to the cleanliness drive.

Engineer Hassan Makki, director of Waste Management Department, Dubai Municipality, said: "People were also informed about the penalties for these as per the local orders pertaining to public cleanliness rules."