THE ninth ‘green and clean’ campaign gets underway today. The annual drive is run by Green Qatar Centre, which functions under the aegis of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Urban Development. Green Qatar Centre director Abdullah al-Kuwari yesterday appealed to citizens and expatriates to actively take part in the campaign and make it a success. The campaign is aimed at making the country free of rubbish, and providing it a green cover. During the coming months, volunteers would be cleaning the beaches and camp sites. Officials pointed out that camp sites and beaches are often found to be littered with garbage and leftover food though there are deterrents like a QR500 fine for littering. Expatriate communities co-ordinator P K Abdullah Kutty said there had already been lots of requests from schools and associations to take part in the campaign. They would be slotted in the coming weeks. This year the campaign was delayed because of the school holidays, the organisers said. They also wanted the weather to improve. Under the annual campaign, the authorities plant saplings at various locations. Though the greening drive is a year-long exercise carried out by the Green Qatar Centre, the cleaning campaign with public participation is limited to a few months, when the weather is agreeable. The campaign is supported “by everyone who lives in this country”, al-Kuwari said, adding activities this time would be similar to those in the previous years. The campaign is supervised by a special committee consisting of hygiene inspectors and other officials from the various municipalities in the country. The campaign committee also runs an annual competition for domestic gardens in all the seven municipalities. The gardens are segregated as small, medium and big for the competition so that everyone stands a fair chance to win the cash prizes on offer. Similarly, schools are also invited to take part in separate competitions. Qataris who like to participate in the campaign may call the Green Qatar Centre (4933206) to register their willingness. Expatriate could contact Abdullah Kutty (5518400 or 4348023). http://gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=270157&version=1&template_id=36&parent_id=16

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