A crackdown on people spitting or urinating in the streets of Manama will be launched soon.

It will follow an awareness campaign on the importance of hygiene and the need for residents to refrain from such behaviour.

Officials say that there has been an increase of such reports in the heavily populated governorate, where nearly 200,000 people live.

Manama Municipality director general Yousif Al Ghatam said that more than 320 posters had been distributed across the governorate in a bid to spread awareness.

'The move comes after the municipality recorded this behaviour as having become a common practice in some areas,' he said.

'The campaign's awareness phase started early this month following the approval of the former municipal council.'

The posters, in Arabic, English, Urdu and Filipino languages, were put up in crowded areas and places that were recorded to have witnessed such behaviour.

'We have also placed A2 aluminium sheets on walls and poles at alleys across Manama,' said Al Ghatam.

'Stickers were also put up on shop windows for the benefit of passers-by.'

The campaign has cost the municipality around BD3,000, he said.

Al Ghatam said that the second phase would be to impose fines on those caught committing such offences in public.

A proposal by the municipality for a fine system has already been sent to the newly elected municipal councillors, he added.

It stipulates that violators would be fined between BD10 and BD20, according to the offence.

It also suggested installing around 500 small bins across the governorate to ensure hygienic practices by pedestrians and passers-by.

The fines will only be effective if the new municipal councillors vote unanimously in favour of the proposal, said Al Ghatam.

'Then it will be approved by the Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Ministry to be implemented,' he added.

'Municipality inspectors will hold regular visits to these areas to ensure everyone follows the new rules.'

Municipality Public Relations head Jameel Al Mubarak said that public toilets could also be in the campaign at a later stage.

'This will not happen anytime soon as it needs regulations from the officials concerned and for the budget to be allocated,' he said.

'But the move could be a huge contribution to the campaign's purpose, which is to promote cleanliness and proper hygiene.'-TradeArabia News Service