National Day/ The Ministry of The Environment /Report

Doha, December 14(QNA)- The Ministry of Environment has accomplished tremendous achievements last year as part of its efforts to protect and preserve a clean and healthy environment. The "Environmental Affairs" sector is one of the several sectors of the ministry which assumes a significant role to preserve the environment. Such a sector includes the departments of Environmental Assessment, Industrial Monitoring and Inspection, the Prevention of Radiation and Chemicals, Protection and Environmental Rehabilitation, Reserves and Wildlife, and Water. These departments have achieved multiple gains, inter-alia environmental permits, where the number of new environmental permits that have been issued over the past year reached 550 permits, while the total number of renewed permits reached 133 permits. During last year, the Environmental Affairs sector also monitored air quality using mobile terminal of the industrial area in Doha, and the equestrian area, and monitoring the quality of sea water, and the number of environmental control reports which were reviewed totaled 89 reports, and the number of checked establishments stood at 29 facilities, in addition to 37 facilities which proved incompatible with legislations. An emergency and security plan was also set on time of accidents, and rehabilitation and training in the field of radiation protection and hazardous materials, the peaceful applications of nuclear energy, and setting standards for the field of radiation in the State of Qatar, and disposal of harmful and hazardous substances . The said plan also covers the early detection of radioactive emissions, the early warning network project, the border control project, the national and regional projects relating to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, the preparation of standards for transport, packaging and storage of hazardous materials, and the development and implementation of a strategy to get rid of hazardous waste. In connection with the wells, the number of wells that were monitored reached 92 wells, and the number of wells which pollution was discovered totaled five, and the number of companies practicing drilling profession and that has been inspected reached six companies. As for the Agricultural Affairs Livestock and Fishery division at the Ministry of Environment, it includes the Department of Agriculture, Livestock Management, Department of Fisheries, Biotechnology Center and the Green Qatar Center. The permits and waste monitoring on farms, release of cards and possession schemes, well drilling licenses and farm reports in the first quarter of the current year have reached 28 schemes, one license and 128 reports. Among the achievements of the Laboratory and Standardization division: A match between optimum specifications and the general policy of the State. A number of specifications and technical standards were released as well as World Trade Organization (WTO) notices and technical studies, research and consultations. In the quality management and conformity field, 66 certificates of conformity for factories and firms were released as well as 11 accreditation certificates for private laboratories, 926 samples to examine from companies were taken (quality certification), 1,122 samples from governmental projects for Central Laboratories, 724 technical consultations, in addition to 437 visits (market survey, outlets, laboratories) and receiving 240 gold and silver samples for examination at the Central Laboratories. For its side, the Waste Treatment Center at the Ministry of Environment has established a Domestic Solid Waste Management Centre (DSWMC) located in Mesaieed, which is the first of its kind in the Middle East. The Center treats and recycles 95% of solid domestic waste through material separation to get vital raw materials for local industries in addition to converting waste to electrical energy. The Management of Environmental Processes Department has received 671 hotline communications (on 998); 345 of which were from maritime and land units constituting environmental non-compliance notices. (QNA)