Doha

The minimum age of Qataris applying for this year’s winter camping season has been raised to 25 from the earlier 21, the Ministry of Environment (MoE) has announced.

The ministry also noted that 58 violators were currently on its blacklist and banned from camping this season.

Speaking at a press conference at the ministry’s headquarters, MoE assistant undersecretary for environmental affairs Ahmed al-Sada said the winter camping season would begin on November 1 and continue for five months, ending on March 31, 2016.

Those interested are required to submit their applications between September 15 and October 15, after which they will be granted one camping permit per applicant if they meet the requirements, according to al-Sada.

Applicants can register at one of the Environment Protection Department’s units in Doha, Umm Salal, Al Rayyan and Al Shamal from 8am to 12noon, or through the ministry’s website. Upon receiving the MoE’s approval via SMS, registrants need to pay a camping insurance fee of QR10,000 no later than November 30, ministry officials said.

Omar Salem al-Nuaimi, director of the Environment Protection Department, said registrants have the liberty of choosing which of this season’s 21 sites they would prefer to camp at.

The official noted that the MoE is co-ordinating with the Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning, Civil Defence and Hamad Medical Corporation to ensure that camping sites have the necessary facilities for campers such as waste containers and medical services.

Al-Nuaimi stressed that licence holders are prohibited from renting their camping spaces for any reason, in which case a violation will be registered against them and their permits will be revoked.

In addition to renting camps, the camping season’s general co-ordinator, Saad Ibrahim al-Kaabi, said other major violations include the use of loudspeakers or disturbing other campers, non-commitment to public morals and customs, cutting trees or harming the environment, excavation works or removal of stones and rocks using machinery for the purpose of settlement and using camp spaces for undesignated purposes.

Al-Kaabi said MoE inspectors would monitor the sites in order to check campers’ adherence to rules and regulations, in addition to booking violators and referring some of the cases to prosecutors.

According to him, 58 violators are currently on the MoE’s camping blacklist, 20 of whom have been referred to prosecutors, and will not be allowed to camp this year.

MoE officials have called upon campers to abide by the rules and requirements for a trouble-free camping season, noting that the ministry has simplified its procedures to facilitate registrations and allow campers to retrieve their insurance fees after the end of the season.