A campaign to make people aware about the dangers that vehicles' emissions pose, organised by the Environment Ministry in collaboration with the Public Security Directorate (PSD) and the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN), ended today.
Environment Minister Taher Shakshir said the campaign, which was launched in July, covered the entire Kingdom and all kinds of vehicles to make people aware about the ill effects of these emissions and the implication for environment and health.
He said the campaign was part of a series of measures that will be implemented by the ministry. Similar campaigns will take place in the future too with the aim of preserving the environment and protecting citizens' health, both on top of the government's priorities.
RSCN President Colonel Hamzah Qaiam said the PSD department, which examined 64,878 diesel and gasoline vehicles, showed that 15,669 diesel vehicles and 36,697 gasoline vehicles were found in sound condition while 12,512 vehicles were adjudged as posing environmental threat. The owners of these vehicles were notified to ensure that any fault was rectified.
He also said the campaign comprised two phases. The first included an awareness exercise in which driving licenses were not seized. It lasted from July 9 to August 7. The second phase included vehicles' examination and seizing the licenses of the violators to ensure that they get their vehicles' rectified. This phase lasted from August 8 till September 7.
"When the notification expires and the vehicle is still not fixed, a fine up to 40 dinars will be imposed under Article (35/1) of the traffic Law No. (49) for the year 2008," Colonel Qaiam said.