The Environment Public Authority (EPA) has decided to close down Al-Shamlan Bay as of Thursday until further notice due to continued pollution of the country's coastal and marine environment.
EPA made the decision during a meeting with representatives of Kuwait Ports Authority at its headquarters to discuss reports of environment violations at the Bay whether by fishermen or by using boats for residential purposes.
The meeting deemed these practices as hazardous to the safety of Kuwait's marine and coastal environment, as well as the citizens' health, Eng. Mohammed Al-Enezi, Deputy Director General for Technical Affairs and Industrial Environment at EPA told KUNA.
"The closure of the Bay is also a prelude to a final solution for implementing environmental requirements at all bays," Al-Enezi said, noting that today's meeting was preceded by several visits to Al-Shamlan Bay by EPA's specialists, who scientifically analyzed and evaluated the situation at the Bay.
He also added that the Authority's decision is based on articles (8) and (10) of law No. 21/1995 concerning the establishing of EPA, amended by law No. 16/1996, that grant EPA the right to determine requirements that must be met when constructing, using, or removing any facility, or producing materials, or conducting operations, or any other partial or entire activity that leads to polluting the environment, adding that it also gives it the right to cease any partial or entire activity that continues to damage the environment.
Al-Enezi noted that EPA's decision requires taking out all marine items, including boats, and ceasing all activities inside Al-Shamlan Bay, expressing his hope in seeing a commitment to the Authority's decision and fully implement it.