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Firms warned against spilling of concrete

RTA has insisted that concrete producers must take immediate measures to avoid concrete spillage and falling of wastes and concrete masses from their ready-mix vehicles while being transported to construction sites.

Abdullah Yousuf Al Ali, RTA Director of Maintenance Department, said concrete spillage tarnishes the aesthetic quality of Dubai roads causing pollution, traffic jams and accidents. And last but not the least, it leads to financial losses of at least half a million dirhams every year.

He added that if such violations were not stopped soon, the RTA will take strict action against cement producing companies. The action may range from seizing the vehicles, implementing fines, or arresting the drivers for repeatedly violating these directives.

A meeting was held at RTA recently to discuss this serious issue: Headed by Abdullah Yousuf Al Ali, it was attended by Hasan Moh'd Maky Assistant Director of Environment Department, Dubai Municipality, Marwan Abdullah, Head of Building Inspection Section, DM. Basil Ibrahim Saad, Manager of Road Maintenance at RTA, and Abdul Karim Moh'd Mosleh, specialist Roads Maintenance at RTA, along with representatives of various cement producing companies in Dubai.

Abdullah Yousuf insisted on the cooperation of the concrete producers to find the right solutions for this critical issue. He asked them to refrain from overloading the vehicles beyond their normal capacity, and to cover the shoot vents while commuting.

Abdullah made it clear that the RTA will take immediate and serious action against defaulters. These measures may include the arrest of drivers, seizure of their vehicles, or imposition of cash penalties, in addition to RTA fines which may be up to AED: 2500 - and could be doubled in case the offense is repeated more than once in a year.

While highlighting the offences and damages on roads caught by RTA cameras, Eng Al Ali urged the ready mix concrete producers to conduct awareness campaigns for their drivers to help avoid such violations. Hasan Moh'd Maky, Assistant Director of Environment Dept. at DM, gave a presentation on the effects of concrete spillage and its effect on the environment, roads safety and the general scene of the Emirate. He said even the Environment Department will take serious actions against those who commit such offences.

He noted that a memorandum has been issued by DM to the supervision section at the wastes department, to strictly monitor the construction sites which include the roads and Dubai metro projects. He said, in addition to the fines and punishments, defaulters should be responsible for removing the spillage and wastes. If they avoid doing so, they will have to pay for all the expenses incurred for repairing the damages and an additional 25 per cent as administrative expenses.

Marwan Abdullah, head of Building Inspection Section, DM, said Dubai Municipality recently issued a notice in all the leading local newspapers to alert the consultants, contractors and ready-mix concrete producing companies about the importance of cleaning their concrete vehicles on the project sites to avoid messing the roads.

The representatives of concrete companies, while willing to cooperate with the RTA, have pointed out that usually there is a lack of necessary space and facilities to clean their vehicles at the construction sites.

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