Doha: Minister of Municipality and Environment, H E Eng. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie, stressed yesterday the importance of the role played by the environmental sector in the Ministry, as environmental development is one of the main pillars of Qatar National Vision 2030.
This came during the 8th session of the first annual planning forum organised by the Ministry with the participation of all sectors in the Ministry.
The Minister pointed out that there are great challenges and environmentally harmful practices which required the environmental officials to deal with them firmly in a bid to preserve the environment and its resources, and to achieve environmental sustainability for present and future generations.
He said that the challenges facing the environment required the cooperation of all sectors and individuals of society, considering the strengthening of the means and tools for monitoring environmental violations and raising their level and confronting any damage to the environment.
The Minister called for a comprehensive review of environmental laws and legislations to show their suitability for the size and type of violations that exist, and in case of insufficient, they shall be amended with harsher penalties in order to deter violators.
In the next ten years, the issue of the environment will be one of the most important files in the State of Qatar, which requires everyone to make great and effective steps in this field, the Minister added.
The first annual planning forum discussed in its eighth session the main plans, projects and activities of the environmental affairs sector. Assistant Undersecretary for Environmental Affairs, Hassan Bojumhur Al Mohannadi presented the sector’s work plan.
The session also included presentations of the plans and projects of the departments of the environmental affairs sector including Monitoring and Environmental Laboratory, Industrial inspection and pollution control, protection from radiation and chemicals, Environmental Assessment Department, Environmental Protection Reserves & Wildlife Climate change, and Natural Reserves Department.
The session concluded with an open discussion from some of the participants, and responses were given by the Assistant Undersecretary for the Environmental Affairs Sector and directors of the departments of the sector.
