The National Center for Environmental Compliance announced the issuance of 557 violations for failing to meet the requirements of the procedural guide for controlling and mitigating dust in Riyadh, with fines exceeding 16 million riyals.

This comes as part of efforts to raise compliance with environmental regulations and improve air quality around projects within urban areas.

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Eng. Fawaz Al-Majthool, Director of the Center's branch in Riyadh, explained that the campaign launched last February in cooperation with the Royal Commission for Riyadh City and the Riyadh Municipality. Field teams conducted over 3,000 inspections of construction projects, during which they observed non-compliance by some projects with approved measures to reduce dust emissions. These measures include implementing emission control methods during construction, such as installing air quality monitoring devices on site, applying dust suppressants, covering transport trucks, and ensuring truck movement adheres to the technical guide's requirements.

Analysis of Air Quality Indicators

Al-Majthool stated that the observed violations resulted from monitoring based on analysis of air quality indicators from monitoring stations, reports from residents in neighborhoods adjacent to projects, and round-the-clock inspector patrols. He noted that the monitored sites saw a response from violators who worked to stop dust triggers and implement the procedural guide requirements published on the website of the Center and the Royal Commission for Riyadh City.

Continued Field Monitoring

The Director of the Riyadh branch affirmed that field monitoring of construction projects in Riyadh will continue, calling on all developers and contractors to comply with dust emission control and reduction measures. These measures play a role in minimizing the environmental impact of construction, improving air quality, protecting public health, and contributing to the sustainability and quality of life goals in Riyadh.