Muscat- The office of the Minister of State and Governor of Muscat Governorate banned collection and dealing of scrap metals. They must gain the license from the authority. As per the new regulations, scrap metal collectors and dealers should practice the activity within the industrial areas in Muscat Governorate after obtaining license from the relevant authority.

Scrap metal collectors and dealers are not permitted to concede the license to another person nor are they allowed to practice the activity outside the designated area or in residential quarters. The regulations also criminalise dealing in scrap metal coming from unknown sources. The decision is taken in view of recurring and persistent complaints regarding scrap collecting vehicles and to address public concerns. Sayyid Saud bin Hilal al Busaidy, Minister of State and Governor of Muscat, issued a ministerial decision regulating the practice of scrap collection and handling activity in the governorate.

Previously, scrap collecting vehicles used to ply in various residential neighbourhoods in most governorates of the Sultanate of Oman, a phenomenon which has brought lot of problems to the residents due to the noise made by these vehicles. In addition to this, the environmental pollution of these vehicles, forced many citizens and residents to complain to the authorities concerned regarding these vehicles and sought to find a solution to this issue.

A fine of RO 500 for those who practice the activity without a license and, a fine of RO 300 will be imposed on those who engage in the activity with an expired license. The scrap collecting and handling licenses will be cancelled in the event of a repeat violation of vehicle movement in residential neighbourhoods.