DM strives to balance economic growth without compromising on environment

Eng. Raed Mohammed Al Marzouqi, Head of Environmental Control Unit in the Environmental Protection and Safety Section of the Environment Department, said the Environment Department is one of the major driving forces in achieving Dubai Municipality's vision of creating an excellent city that provides the essence of success and comfort of living.

He was presenting his paper, "Dubai Municipality's Role in the Implementation of Sustainable Procedures to Ensure Sustainable Lifestyle" during the fourth Global Environmental Youth Convention (GEYC 2006), which is being held at the Etisalat Academy in Dubai.

Al Marzouqi said Dubai Municipality has established guidelines and standards on safety of work place and equipment, air environment and noise pollution, water quality and discharge, hazardous waste handling and disposals, and waste audit requirements.

The Environmental Control Unit conducts regular inspection of industrial premises and other establishments to ensure environmental and occupational safety and hygiene compliance, said Al Marzouqi.

He said the Municipality conducts online processing of environmental clearances for industries and other development projects.

"In addition to that we have recently started a new e-service for issuing permits for disposal of industrial wastes. We are also monitoring industrial areas and other development projects in the Emirate of Dubai, in addition to taking part in reviewing of major development projects," said Al Marzouqi.

He also pointed out that the functions of the Environmental Control Unit also include conducting surveys on environment, occupational safety and health issues.

"These include inspection of special sites and premises, area monitoring and other surveys. We also monitor contaminant sources to ensure that receiving water is unaffected, in addition to controlling water disposal to appropriate disposal area to facilitate proper treatment," said Al Marzouqi.

He said the unit also monitors illegal disposal of waste in order to maintain uncontaminated soil and land. "We also ensure that the emission of industrial entities is within the allowable limits to maintain a healthy living condition and insist that the emission of non-point sources is compliant with our stipulations," said Al Marzouqi.

He said Dubai Municipality is also keen to maintain the aesthetic image of the city. "We insist that proper housekeeping and cleanliness of the industrial and commercial establishments are done. In addition to that we also attend to complaints regarding the HSE (Health Safety Environment) issues to see the wellbeing of the residents and affected entity in the emirate," said Al Marzouqi.

He said the unit also conducts emergency investigation of serious accidents that occur in the city in order to evaluate the extent of damages they cause to the environment.

Al Marzouqi said the special surveys conducted by the unit include survey on the emirate's ground water resources for further formulation of its conservation and also in water use by service stations to prepare guidelines to optimize the use of water.

He said the surveys on occupational health and safety at work places are conducted for the wellbeing of the workers. "In order to maintain general health and safety, environmental surveys are conducted at fishing ports also," said Al Marzouqi.

He said the unit reviews the Environment Impact Assessment of projects in the emirate to ensure that proper preventive measures are in place and minimize, if not totally eliminate adverse impact to all aspects of the environment.

"Development projects are monitored to ensure compliance to environmental management plan to minimize environmental impacts. We also implement and formulate procedures and guidelines to attend to issues concerning the rapid development of the emirate that include batching plant's requirement, transit mixer cleanliness and proper handling of cargo," said Al Marzouqi.

"As far as dangerous goods are concerned we restrict their movement and ensure their proper storage and handling for the safety of property and lives in the emirate," he said.

Al Marzouqi said the industrial establishments are required to submit waste audit reports, which help us monitor waste generation and its possible reduction, reuse, recycling and recovery.

He said the department also implements rules to ensure waste minimization, in addition to ensure that chemicals listed in the Montreal and Kyoto protocols are not used in Dubai.