Tighter surveillance on RAK's quarries, cement factories

Ras Al Khaimah - The three ports of the emirate, including Saqr port, RAK port and Red Island port, along with the eight fishing ports will soon fall under the new system.

Quarries and cement factories in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah are under tighter surveillance now with a new system that remotely monitor their activities.
The Environment Protection and Development Authority, RAK, has launched the new monitoring system from a specialised unit based at its headquarters in the RAK downtown.
Dr Saif Al Ghais, Director of the Environment Protection and Development Authority, RAK, said the system, operating round the clock, consists of a number of cameras that covers 20 quarries and six cement factories.
"Each and every quarry and cement factory in the emirate is remotely monitored by four to eight HD surveillance cameras as per the total area and number of facilities."
The system, in trial for a week, will help detect any violation of environment regulations, he added. "The remote surveillance system is expected to cover more industrial, commercial and technical institutions."
The three ports of the emirate, including Saqr port, RAK port and Red Island port, along with the eight fishing ports will soon fall under the new system.
"This will help curb all anti-environment violations and come up with a quick action," he said, noting that 13 out of 33 quarries in the emirate had to shut their business after failing to meet the set stringent environment standards.
"Only 20 quarries and crusher plants are operative in the emirate after meeting the conditions enforced by the Environment Protection and Development Authority, RAK, and Ministry of Environment and Climate Change."
Recently, the authority has ordered two cement mixing factories to move out of the residential areas in the emirate to the remote Seeh Al Ghib area. "All quarries and cement factories need to use high quality filters, cover loose raw materials, water facilities and premises, and never use underground water."
Dr Al Ghais underlined that the authority has so far distributed 9,400 free Samar, Ghaf and Sidr trees to the factories, quarries and institutions in the emirate.
"The move, which is part of the 'Plant 1.1m tree' initiative, is meant to expand green areas, fight desertification across the emirate, and get the residents involved in the process of environment protection and development."
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com