DOHA: About 55 citizens would not be camping this winter as they have been blacklisted for environment-related violations last year. The section concerned at the Ministry of Environment has announced that camping season will start on October 30 and end on April 16 next year.
Applicants for the camp licences must be aged 21 years and above. Saleh Hassan Al Kuwari, Director of the section, said that about 55 citizens have not been given permission this year to set up camps because of the violations they committed last year that placed them on a black list.
Al Kuwari said that registration for the new camping season will begin on October 13 and will continue until December 15.
Another source from the Ministry told an Arabic daily that authorities were keen to promote winter camping as this was an integral part of the culture and heritage of the country and it provided an opportunity for parents and grandparents to spend time with their children in camps and on beaches.
He said as part of preparations for this year’s season all camping sites have been cleaned up.
Inspectors from the environment protection department will tighten patrols and any one found throwing wastes in the wrong places whether water or land and cause pollution to the environment would be penalised. They could face one month in jail or fine of QR5,000.
The Al Rayyan, Umm Salal and Doha municipalities are planning to set up a database for all the camps in their locations. The official said it is expected to have about 2000 camps this year similar to those registered last year.
The Peninsula
