Workshops and stores that encroach on public spaces in the Southern Governorate were warned to comply with the law or face legal action.
This came after teams from the Southern Municipality removed several illegal structures occupying public roads in Block 646, Nuwaidarat.
Officials from the municipality, Interior Ministry and the Labour Market Regulatory Authority registered 36 violations related to heavy machinery, equipment and other items.
“A number of violating workshops and stores were warned to meet the municipal law requirements,” said a municipality statement.
The block covers about 90 properties listed as workshops and businesses for maintenance services.
The violations of the public road registered by the team restricted the freedom of movement of pedestrians, obscured visibility and distorted the public image of the area, in contravention of the 1996 Occupancy of Public Roads Law.
The law authorises the municipality to remove such violations immediately and with prior notification, and to fine the violators, who will also shoulder the removal expenses.
“This campaign also comes as part of the ongoing monitoring and inspection work carried out by the Southern Municipality to detect violations and ensure its correction, failure of which could lead to legal action,” it added.
The municipality added that it will continue with its inspection campaigns throughout the year to ensure shops, showrooms, warehouses and workshops do not encroach on public road, and maintain cleanliness and aesthetic appearance of the areas.
Legitimate small businesses have previously complained about being undercut by the pavement pests who sometimes set up outside shops moving pedestrians and other shoppers onto busy roads and oncoming traffic.
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