Massive creek clean up drive held

During the half-day clean up initiative, in which more than 500 people of various nationalities, who work in dhows (small vessels) that frequent the wharfages on the creek side and Al Hamriya Port, have participated, some 40 tons of waste was retrieved from the sea-bed of the port.

The initiative, supported by professional divers as well as volunteers from oil firms and shipping companies, is held as part of a campaign aimed at educating the wharfage users on the need to preserve the quality of creek water. The opening ceremony of the event was held at Al Hamriya Port with school students and inmates of Al Mamzar Old Age Home attending.
Lootah said the municipality is organizing the campaign for the second year running and is aptly titled "Marasina" (our ports).

The Dhow wharfages on the creek side and Al Hamriya Port receive more than 800 dhows and vessels every month. Dubai Municipality's marine environment team salvages at least 12,000 tons of waste from the creek bed every month.

"We want to educate the dhow employees on the need to significantly reduce this volume of waste. Fines and warnings are not always the way to do it. The campaign involved them in an exercise that will eventually lead to a higher awareness level among the very people who are the main polluters of the creek water," he said.

During the first edition of the campaign in 2006, some 14 tones of waste was picked up from the creek bed, which included tyres, soft drink cans and other waste, and was sent for recycling.