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Muscat Municipality establishes a team to regulate the activity of Shisha Cafes and seeking solutions to combat drugs

• Investigation of the risks of driving quad bikes in residential districts,
• Proposals for the development of Rimal Bucher area and appointment of security sentries of multi-storey buildings, and
• Referral of misleading pedestrian crossing bridges, street names in Al-Amerat State and Al-Amerat-Bucher Road, and religious signage installation to the Public Affairs Committee for Investigation and Reporting.

The General Department for Combating Drugs and Psychotropic Substance, ROP, demonstrated the security burden imposed by the drug problem, with its consequences damaging the society, and resulting in high rates of rampant theft, murder, suicide, abuse and traffic accidents. This was contained in the Department`s statement, which was reviewed in the Municipal Council in Muscat, attended by HE Eng. Mohsen bin Mohammed Al-Sheikh, Chairman of Muscat Municipality and Chairman of the Municipal Council during a session of the Municipal Council held in Muscat yesterday morning.

The statement of the General Directorate for Combating Drugs and Psychotropic Substances definition included introduction of narcotic drugs, their types and methods of abuse. The current situation of the drug problem in the Sultanate was also reviewed and compared with the international situation of the problem. The statement stressed that the success of drugs and psychotropic substances control requires three main focal points: 1) Supply reduction through operational measurements carried out by the relevant authorities to prevent the entry of drugs to the Sultanate and arrest the smugglers, 2) Demand reduction through educating the community about drug impacts delivered through awareness lectures and brochures, and dedication of a hotline for reporting cases of drug abuse, and 3) International cooperation through entering into agreements and memoranda of understanding to combat drug trafficking.

The legal aspect of drugs, represented in the law of Combating Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, issued under Royal Decree No. 17/99, involving the regulatory, preventive, curative and punitive aspects, was reviewed. Meanwhile, the civil society organizations are making intensive efforts to address the drug problem e.g. security, health and social efforts, carried out by the General Directorate for Combating Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, ROP. These involve control of drug smuggling and trafficking, cultivation and manufacturing of narcotic substances, and imposing of pharmaceutical censorship, along with awareness creation endeavours through the allocation of a mobile vehicle, roaming throughout the Sultanate in order to introduce the drug problem, preparation of a training and educational awareness exhibition in the Sultan Qaboos Academy for Police Sciences and cooperation with the National Committee for Combating Drugs and Psychotropic Substances in treating and rehabilitating addicts. This is coupled with the efforts of the National Committee for Combating Drugs, represented in developing addict treatment and rehabilitation programs, making recommendations, and linking and activating the role of stakeholders, in addition to the efforts of supporting associations and rehabilitative organizations and clinics that provide preventive, curative, rehabilitative and psychological consultation.

Through the meeting, recommendations of the Public Affairs Committee, concluded at its seventh meeting on the Administrative Division of the States of Muscat, were discussed. Members proposed a delegation established from the Directorate General of Muscat Municipality at Greater Muttrah, with the required manpower and equipment, for burden alleviation of monitoring the municipal work in both of Muscat and Muttrah.

Moreover, it is necessary to enforce the Royal Decree No. 91/2008, which has defined the geographical boundaries of Muscat, provided that such divisions are assigned to provide municipal services in the states of Muscat. A proposal was submitted regarding the development of service offices in each directorate under Muscat Municipality in the states, located far from the center of the State, e.g. inauguration of an office services for the directorates general of Muscat Municipality in Quriyat in Siya area in order to provide services and handle the processes of the citizens.

The Council also discussed the recommendations of the Public Affairs Committee on excluding the passage of septic tanks during the two rush hours, based on regulations and requirements with the competent authorities, and the criteria for the installation of vehicle awnings in front of houses, taking into account a number of technical standards. In addition, organization of taxis operating in the Muscat International Airport was addressed with several relevant bodies to take advantage of the study compiled for this sector and its development, and to provide the facilities and services provided to the owners of the taxis which operate at the Airport pursuant to the local regulating circular thereto.

The council referred the issue of misleading pedestrian crossing bridges, street names in Al-Amerat State and Al-Amerat-Bucher Road, and religious signage installation to the Public Affairs Committee for Investigation and Reporting.

The council also discussed the recommendations of the Healthy, Social and Environmental Affairs Committee in terms of taking advantage of the proposal on the remnants of foods in restaurants and cafes and a draft regulation of fines determination against offenses to the local circulars.

The Council approved the recommendations of the Public Affairs Committee about Maintaining the Old Profile of Muttrah, recommending to raise interest in the urban profile in old Muttrah in the existing residential and commercial buildings through adding some aesthetic architectural touches to internal windows and balconies for putting on the Omani distinctive character, taking into account the preservation of the distinctive urban profile within the rehabilitation project of Muttrah, carried out by Muscat Municipality. Certain aesthetic touches were also considered in the design of the new maps for the construction of modern houses through establishing the internal windows and balconies with the Islamic architectural profile and handling them in a scientific clear way, taking into account the necessary technical requirements, in order to preserve the historical identity of the Omani cities. Moreover, continuous cooperation and integration between the Municipality and the Ministry of Heritage and Culture was emphasized with respect to inspecting, tracking and maintaining these houses, considering the possibility of extending the controls and requirements for archaeological buildings including internal buildings, similarly to the buildings overlooking the maritime street in Muttrah, in coordination with the Ministry of Heritage and Culture, along with preventing the bachelorette expat labour from living in such archaeological and historical houses, while protecting and preserving them, as well.

The Council agreed to assign the Healthy, Social and Environmental Affairs Committee to consider the memorandum of the Secretariat of the Municipal Council on driving quad bikes in residential districts, along with their damage and noise impact on individuals and the surrounding environment. The Council instructed the Public Affairs Committee to examine the proposal submitted by the Secretariat of the Municipal Council about regulating the use of motorcycles in Rimal Bucher and consider the appointment of security sentries for multi-storey buildings, based on paragraph F, Article 31 of the Local Circular No. 23/92, on the Building Organization in Muscat, which stipulates as follows:
"Any residential or residential / commercial building, consisting of four or more floors, or, otherwise, any building with more than ten housing units, shall hereby be provided with a bathroom to be used by the sentry on the ground floor and be connected to the main entrance." The Council endorsed the recommendation of the Healthy, Social and Environmental Affairs Committee on smoking prohibition in public open places, a proposal of modifying the requirements of presentation and renewal of licenses for Shisha cafes, and the study of smoking and non-smoking tobacco sale control, in conjunction with a consideration of the regulations of health requirements in Muscat Municipality.

The Council stressed on the commitment to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which the Sultanate agreed to join under the Royal Decree No. 20 / 2005, where Article 8 hereof states to "protect all people from exposure to tobacco smoke in enclosed public places".

The Council reviewed a number of letters from governmental and private organizations received by the Municipal Council in terms of service and supervisory works under the competence of the Council.