The Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) is considering a ban on barbecues on all beaches in the country, local Arabic daily Arrayah has reported.
This is because some beach goers leave behind or discard barbecue remains randomly on beaches, in violation of the Public Hygiene Law.
Muqbil Mubarak al-Shammari, director of the MME's General Cleanliness Department, told the daily that besides violating the law, such unbecoming practices involve harmful health and environmental consequences.
Also, dumping the remains of grills and charcoal on the sand may cause burns to beach goers, besides having a negative impact on both the scenery and the nature there, he noted.
Al-Shammari said in spite of the intensive public awareness efforts by the MME in this regard, the incidence of violations involving the dumping the remains of barbecues and grills on the sandy beaches continues to be high - especially during occasions such as the Eid holidays, event though such a practice involves a fine of up to QR10,000.
He stressed that the field work team detects and records all kinds of violations to see which type of these are the most common in order to devise solutions accordingly. Awareness efforts continue all year round, he added.
In a related matter, the MME on Tuesday reported that the General Cleanliness Department, in co-operation with Al Shamal Municipality, removed around 124 tonnes of waste a day from the country's northern beaches during the Eid al-Adha holidays.