Creek clean-up campaign to target dhow workers

Dubai: At least 12,000 tonnes of waste is collected each month from the Dubai Creek, according to Dubai Municipality.

The waste material is mostly generated due to the heavy traffic of up to 800 dhows and other boats which use the waterway for trade, the civic body said.

A clean-up campaign, called Marasina, or our ports, is being planned, the second of its kind, at the creek and Hamriya Port in an effort to keep the waters clean as well as to educate people on environmental damages caused by throwing rubbish overboard.

Dubai Municipality is organising a one-day clean up of the creek on February 7. An awareness campaign will target people who work on dhows and frequent the wharfs who are seen as those who pollute the waters most.

"We want to educate the dhow employees on the need to significantly reduce this volume of waste. Fines and warnings are not always the way to do it," said Khalid Salaitine, General Coordinator of the campaign.

"The campaign will involve them in an exercise that will eventually lead to a higher awareness level among the very people who are the main polluters of the creek waters," he added.

During the first edition of the campaign in 2006 around 14 tonnes of waste was collected from the creek bed, which included tyres, soft drink cans and other waste which was sent for recycling.

"There will be professional divers removing garbage from the creek bed during the clean-up," said Hamdan Al Shair, Director of Environment Department at Dubai Municipality.

"But we are keen on ensuring participation of dhow workers so that they are made aware of the need to keep the creek waters clean."

Abra drivers will also be expected to work with volunteers. "We will distribute them along different wharfage points to ensure clean-up of the maximum possible area," Al Shair added.

The initiative is supported by professional divers as well as volunteers from oil and shipping companies. School pupils and residents of Al Mamzar Old Age Home are expected to attend.