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Litterbugs mar beauty of Sharjah’s Khalid Lagoon

SHARJAH — The daily collection of waste from the Khalid Lagoon during the holy month of Ramadan has been increasing at a fast rate, and that is worrying for the authorities.

Engineer Yehia Bin Ramadan Al Bulooshi, head of the Environment Section at Sharjah Municipality, said, "The negative behaviour of some people who dump wastes such as plastic bags or fizz drink cans into Khalid Lagoon has not only adversely affected the coral reef but has also contributed to the deaths of marine creatures besides marring the beauty of the lagoon."

"The civic body is regularly conducting routine sample tests on the lagoon water to check the purity and hygiene value of the water. So far the result of the water samples taken from various parts of the lagoon are satisfactory. Sometimes we face oil and petroleum pollution causing water pollution and harm to the marine species but we manage to contain them with the help of the Federal Environment Authority. In some cases we seek the help of international environment companies which are specialists in containing and treating oil and petroleum pollution," he said.

Al Bulooshi said petroleum pollution forms a layer in the water that prevents the availability of oxygen. The hydrocarbons in the layer kill and maim marine life.

Warning against dumping chemical pollutants into Khalid Lagoon, he said, "Chemical pollutants such as insecticides and pesticides are poison to fish and to the person who dines on such fish. If marine life is exposed to even small doses of pollutants for a long period it will do great harm to the health of the person eating the tainted fish."

Al Bulooshi urged people to enjoy the scenery of the lagoon and throw garbage only into the garbage baskets.