Council calls for detailed study on checking price rise

A number of topics including legislation to cut power and water consumption, a mechanism to check rising prices of essential commodities and a draft bill to regulate possession of wild animals as pets were discussed at a meeting of the Ministerial Council for Services on Tuesday.

The council meeting, presided by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, gave directives to draft a federal bill to rationalise the consumption of energy and water. The directives are based on a memorandum submitted by the Ministry of Environment and Water in this regard.

The draft bill will aim to create a legislative framework that will support the efforts of government institutions to reduce consumption of water and electricity and ensure sustainability.

It will also encourage government authorities to use sources of alternative and renewable energy and to reduce the carbon footprint.

The council also discussed recommendations made by the Ministry of Economy to check rising prices of essential commodities, and studied alternatives to bring down the cost of living of people with limited or middle income. The council gave directives to involve the authorities concerned and prepare a more detailed study in this regard.

The council also reviewed the procedures followed in the management of food stuff in the UAE as well as the mechanisms for ensuring their adequate supply.

The spreading practice of possessing wild animals and predators as pets and growing them in households also came up for discussion at the meeting. The council gave directives to the Ministry of Environment to draft necessary laws to prevent this practice. —

• UAE