The Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) has detected 82 agricultural farms for carrying non-agricultural activities like running labour camps, warehouses in the municipalities of Al Sheehaniya, Al Rayan, Al Wakra and Umm Salal.
The non-agricultural activities were shutdown completely in 48 erring farms while 34 farms committing minor violations have rectified their situation.
The action was taken under a nationwide campaign launched by the MME in collaboration with the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs; Ministry of Commerce and Industry; and Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya) to ensure that the agricultural farms are complying with the laws.
The inspection campaign reached at the farms in Al Khor and Al Zakhira Municipality and soon it will move to Al Dayeen and Al Shamal. The details about the campaign were given by officials at a press conference held at Al Mansour Tower of the MME yesterday.
Addressing the press conference, Jabir Hasan Al Jabir, Director of Al Sheehaniya Municipality who is the Head of Team for Follow up the Violations at Farms said: “Under the campaign, violations were removed at 20 farms out of total 32 erring farms in Al Sheehaniya Municipality while 12 farms with minor violations have rectified their situation.”
Al Jabir said that Al Rayan Municipality witnessed the removal of 12 violations and seven rectifications. “Five major violations were removed at Al Wakra Municipality and another eight violations are being removed,” said Al Jabir.
He said that the inspection campaign began at Al Khor and Al Zakhira Municipality from January 9. So far 18 violations were recorded at the farms. “Once the campaign is competed there, the inspectors will move to Al Dayeen and Al Shamal municipalities,” said Al Jabir.
He said that the campaigns will continue until all violations are addressed. “The violations include construction of buildings for labour camps, warehouses and non-agricultural activities at agricultural farms,” said Al Jabir.
The Ministry of Municipal and Environment has called on the farm owners to cooperate with the municipalities in shutting down non-agricultural activities at their farms.
The farmers have also been urged to utilise these farms for agricultural purposes to keep pace with the State plan to increase self-sufficiency of the country in local agricultural produce. The Ministry also called the companies and institutions to move to the authorised labour camps. The Director of Agricultural Affairs Department at the MME, Yousuf Khalid Al Khulaifi, said that a total of 27 erring farms, after rectifying their situation, started producing vegetables.
The press conference was also attended by the Director of the Inspection Department at the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs, Fahd Dhafer Al Dossary; Hamad Al Shahwani from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Lieutenant Ali Mohamad Al Saaq from Lekhwiya.