Completion of 81424 customer services in 2018
EPDA provided 81,424 customer and community services, categorized on 97 services during 2018. EPDA also launched the project of fishing ports, remote inspection, and surveillance by drone aircraft on a number of industrial zones. In addition, to mention Feminine mentoring award which received the Gold Class from the British Ideas Organization, as the first government agency in Ras Al Khaimah to register its initiative with the British Ideas Organization.Dr. Saif Mohammed Al Ghais Director General of EPDA, stated that EPDA increased the number of institutional capacities from 205 in 2017 to 235 in 2018, an increment of 14.6%. We also developed the organizational structure to comply with the new strategy of EPDA by creating two departments, 3 offices, 5 divisions, and 3 units under the Institutional Development Office. As well as electronically issuing, renewing and amending 7339 environmental permits for industrial and professional establishments, without the need to visit the EPDA’s building to facilitate investors and ensure the ease of doing business.Fishing sectorAl Ghais pointed out that the project of artificial marine caves involved landing of 973 artificial caves in 9 sites along the coast of Ras Al Khaimah of 64 kilometers, which helped increase the fishery stocks in the Emirate, and to benefit from the project in the future to support the axis of eco-tourism by investing in these artificial models. This project will help to mentor the city of diversity of marine organisms in and around and the growth of coral reefs and sponges on them as an environmental tourist attraction for diving enthusiasts and eco-tourism. EPDA issued and renewed 1017 picnic fishing licenses, and provided 1035 shelters for fishing workers, and 1,186 fishing berths in the emirate’s ports and 462 stores for fishermen’s tools and supplies. There is also “Hasbah” initiative for the happiness of fishermen, through which the development of the fishermen happiness center at Ras Al Khaimah Port has been completed. There were developments of many e-services related to fishing licenses. EPDA also establishment of two ice factories and 5 fishing boat repair workshops to provide the best services to the fishing industry.Tanks TrackingAl Ghais explained that the EPDA has launched “Tarf” system to track liquid tankers to monitor and regulate the disposal of materials at designated sites. This came with the issuance of 18 licenses for the use of groundwater wells, 524 NOC for tank license, 1949 NOC to import chemicals, 236 NOCs for chemical export, and 29 NOCs for transportation of used oils from Ras Al Khaimah ports. EPDA managed to deliver desalinated water to 120 farms for irrigation to ensure that groundwater is not depleted in the Ghail and Hamraniya areas.Irregularities replacement EPDA launched the initiative to replace the value of fines and environmental violations for industrial and professional establishments. This is the first of its kind to replace the value of fines by planting local trees. Within the vision and orientations of Ras Al Khaimah and in support of the EPDA’s strategic objectives of reducing the carbon footprint and encouraging all members of the community to plant local trees. According to the mechanism of implementation of the initiative, a minimum of a redeemable offense of AED 1,000 for industrial establishments and AED 500 for professional establishments. Types of trees that will be planted through this mechanism were limited to local trees such as Sidr, Samar and Ghaf, as well as other species with little water need.Feminine mentoring EPDA launched “Feminine Mentoring for Sustainable Environment” initiative, the first government initiative in Ras Al Khaimah to be registered with the British Ideas Organization in 2018, which received the Gold category. This initiative led to the rationalization of expenses worth 1.45 million AED.EPDA issued 30648 reports on air quality in various areas of Ras Al Khaimah, especially on industrial zones, inside crushers and cement factories, and within government and educational institutions, houses, etc. In addition, it conducted 568 analyzes of reservoir, soil and fish samples to ensure a healthy environment, in addition to measuring the environmental footprint for the first time by EPDA monitors, using Estidama application for 54 residential, industrial and commercial establishments, evaluating EIA studies for 50 studies, and successfully handling 65 environmental complaints.
