DOHA: In a major crackdown, the Doha Municipality has closed down more than 50 outlets in the Industrial Area, including several eateries and groceries, for failing to meet health requirements.
The move follows an intensive inspection campaign that started early in summer.
Some facilities are being closed permanently for serious violations such as operating without a licence and on premises not approved by authorities, a senior official of the Doha Municipality said yesterday.
During the campaign, the municipal inspectors identified about 380 erring outlets, of which 200 have been asked to rectify their situation in a given time frame, Mohammed Al Sayed, head of health control section at the municipality told this daily yesterday.
Of these, 160 shops have rectified their status and some 53 have been ordered closed for failure to comply with rules despite repeated warnings.
“More than 50 shops have been shut in the current phase and the number may reach 180 in the coming phases,” said Al Sayed.
The erring facilities include eateries, supermarkets, groceries, butcheries, chicken stalls, meat shops and warehouses.
“Some of these facilities were found operating without a licence, while some eateries were set up in narrow spaces attached to work sites. Some shops were found keeping meat, vegetables and many other items in the same place in the refrigerator,” said Al Sayed.
He said the campaign was not restricted to the Industrial Area but was part of inspections being carried out by municipal authorities.
He, however, said there was a special emphasis on the Industrial Area because it has a number of eateries and other outlets catering to a large number of expatriate workers living in the area.
The area also has a number of warehouses used for storing food stuff.
The type of violations vary depending on the nature of the shop. The most common violations include poor storage of food items, lack of a valid health certificate for workers and failure to display the contents of some products.
Al Sayed said the task of the health control section is to detect violations and execute decisions. However, there are other authorities to deal with legal issues concerning the erring facilities.
An outlet that faced action for failure to comply with rules can seek permission to resume operation after it rectifies it status. Municipal inspectors will help and guide them in the process, said Al Sayed.
The Peninsula
