Kalba Municipality to fine litterbugs

Under the new plan, which would be enforced this year, violators would be slapped with fines, he said yesterday, adding that there was cooperation between the bodies concerned in keeping all places clean and tidy.

Daily cleaning campaigns would be launched and monitors deployed in public parks, Corniche and other tourist spots, he said.

The municipality had launched an awareness campaign in all schools on cleanliness and public hygiene and distributed booklets to the students on the theme of the drive, he said.

The move was taken after a number of visitors to the new lagoon in the Corniche side were seen throwing waste and leftover of foodstuffs and soft drink cans in all parts of the area ignoring the warnings on the notice boards, he noted.

Litterbugs had tarnished the aesthetic look of the Corniche by throwing plastic bags and facial tissues on flowerbeds and the grass, instead of the garbage bins, as well as leaving behind newspapers in the car parking space where they sit for refreshments, he said.

He said such behaviour was uncivilised and did not reflect the Islamic values or manners.

He said the municipality had turned the area overlooking the man-made lagoons in Kalba to a lush green square with all facilities and services. An area spreading over 43,500 square metres had been planted with saplings of ornamental plants and another 7,540 square-metre area had been set aside for flowers, he added.

The place also had a parking area with a capacity to accommodate 2,085 vehicles.