Muscat municipality follows up on the implementation of the regulations on mountain-cutting and excavation works under the road
By: Bushra Al-Busaidiya.
In persuit of organizing the municipal work and to achieve development visions for an integrated labour system and an appropriate service environment, with priority given to the development of infrastructure projects and service facilities, Muscat Municipality has continued to follow up the progress of the work following the administrative decision No. (212/2017) on the regulation of permits for the cutting mountains and underground excavations, and on the regulation of access to licences in drilling works to extend services down the street by a set of necessary requirements and procedures, which need to be implemented by a certified contractor and in the manner optimum to restore the road.
On this subject, the Director of the Technical Studies Department of Muscat municipality, Mohammad Al Harthi, spoke: "The implementation of administrative Decision No. (212/2017) on the organization of licences for cutting mountains and underground excavations is intended to regulate the issuance of licences and obtain approval by street location and nature of the soil and service to be carried out. The municipality will be studying the application before starting cracking down reclaiming the plot. Mr. Al-Harthy added that the decision came because some of the people and different sides have dramatically and impressively a severe damage to the environment and the urban expansion eventually.
Article 1 of the resolution defines the mechanism for obtaining a licence issued by the municipality prior to the commencement of the breaking and cutting of mountains for reclamation of a land plot or making protections against falling rocks and collapses through an approved contractor and under the supervision of a consultant, in addition to the regulation of obtaining a licence in Drilling works to extend services down the asphalted Street, while article 2 stipulates that only after obtaining a licence from the municipality in accordance with the provisions of the regulations, it will be permitted to cut a mountain or carrying out drilling works under the road. The article also specifies the penalty for anyone who contravenes the provisions of this Regulation with an administrative fine .
The engineer added: "In some cases, when there is a license for mountain cutting and excavation work, debris and residues are left for for a long period. The contamination of the residential environment, in addition to residues may contain substances harmful to human health and inhabitants. Article 15 of the same resolution, obligating the contractor to remove the residue or debris and to restore the situation within the time limit given by the municipality, not to exceed one month, and in the event of a breach by the contractor, the competent authority of the municipality, without prior warning will take legal actions against the contractor.
It is noteworthy that Muscat municipality has always been careful to address all observations and irregularities in mountain cracking and underground excavations. Taking into account of course the environmental balance between physical expansion and preservation of natural elements.