The Advisory Council has approved a draft law on "Public Hygiene" and decided to submit its recommendations to the Cabinet.
The council recommended to the government to abort the jail sentence mentioned in the proposed law and reduced the fine from QR50,000 to QR20,000.
It was also recommended to notify the authorities concerned to build necessary public facilities like toilets and provide dustbins, and parking lots for vehicles and machines so they cannot violate the provisions of the law.
It is necessary to launch a massive media campaign including print, electronic and social media to educate the people about the law. Banners and hoarding should be placed on the roadside, public places and markets in several languages.
The punishments with the provisions should be mentioned for public awareness.
As per the recommendations, the Ministry of Municipality and Environment should be notified to train its employee who was nominated to be armed with judicial power for the implementation of the proposed law.
Regarding the reduction of punishment, the committee explained that jail sentence and fine both are bigger than the violations.
In the similar law of GCC countries does not have jail sentence, so it decided to cancel the imprisonment.
The draft law prohibits dumping, abandoning and waste disposal in public places, squares, roads, streets, lanes, alleys, pavements, courtyards, public gardens and parks, beaches, land space, rooftops, on the walls, balconies, skylights, corridors and yards, facades of houses and buildings and car parks and other places, whether public or private.
It also prohibits to leave or dump waste in areas not designated by the municipality concerned for the purpose.
The draft also prohibits leaving animals or birds in places that are not licensed to keep or breed animals and birds.
The municipality is authorized to ensure public hygiene in all its forms, including waste collection, transfer, discharge, disposal and recycling within its jurisdiction.
The services committee of the council submitted a report on the proposed law in a regular session yesterday. The council discussed the report and made recommendations.
The Advisory Council held yesterday its regular weekly meeting during its 45th ordinary session under the chairmanship of HE Speaker of the Advisory Council Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khulaifi.
At the outset of the meeting, HE the Council's Secretary-General Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khayareen read out the meeting agenda and the council approved it, then the Council ratified the minutes of its previous meeting.
