Doha

The cabinet issued a draft law that seeks to prevent the wasteful use of electricity and drinking water in the country.

Consumers found wasting these precious resources will face stringent penalties, according to the draft law that includes amendments to Law No 26 of 2008.

After reviewing the Advisory Council’s recommendations, the cabinet took the necessary steps to issue the draft law amending some provisions of Law No 26 of 2008 on rationalising the consumption of electricity and water, the official Qatar News Agency said.

According to the bill, automatic keys are to be set up for the external lighting of buildings and facilities based on conditions and specifications laid down by a decision of the Qatar General Electricity & Water Corporation chairman.

A fine of no more than QR20,000 is to be imposed on violators of Article 4, Item 1, of the law, which prohibits residents of buildings and facilities (both owners and tenants) from using drinking water to wash cars and equipment or clean courtyards, through water hoses or other means of direct flow.

Additionally, a fine not exceeding QR10,000 will be imposed on violators of Article 4, Items 2 and 3, which prohibits leaving lights on in places such as the walls and exteriors of buildings and public and private facilities, from 7am to 4.30pm.

The law also prohibits neglecting damaged or broken pipes and taps in internal water networks that might cause water leakage.

Besides the law, the Qatar General Water & Electricity Corporation (Kahramaa) has launched Tarsheed, the National Campaign for the Conservation and Efficient Use of Water and Electricity in the country .

The campaign aims at reducing the daily consumption of water and electricity and meeting the targeted levels of reduction within a 5- year timeline. Qatar has one of the highest rates of water and electricity consumption in the world.

After the regular cabinet meeting chaired by HE the Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani at the Emiri Diwan, HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Ahmed bin Abdullah al-Mahmoud said it was also decided to ratify a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Energy and Industry and South Korea’s Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning for co-operation in human resources and research in the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

The meeting also endorsed a draft agreement on legal co-operation between the Ministries of Justice of Qatar and Kyrgyzstan as well as a draft agreement on air services between the governments of Qatar and Sao Tome and Principe.

Finally, the cabinet reviewed and took the necessary decisions about a draft decision by HE the Minister of Interior amending some provisions of Decision No 11 of 2007 that sets the conditions, regulations and periods of granting leaves for military personnel at the ministry.

It also reviewed a letter by HE the Minister of Environment on a draft cabinet decision that regulates fishing ports.