More awareness required to keep the city clean

Muscat: More awareness is required to keep Muscat looking clean and presentable, according to a municipal council member.
This statement was made after the Muscat Municipality announced that a hefty fine will be levied on those found hanging their laundry to dry in the balconies.
Dry your clothes on the balcony? Expect a fine
Speaking exclusively to Times of Oman, Sanna Al Mashari, a municipal council member of Amerat said: “Hanging clothes on balconies spoils the aesthetic look of the city. Intensive awareness campaigns should be carried out by the authorities in this regard to keep the capital beautiful and clean.”
She added that: “This phenomenon of hanging laundry can be seen among the expat workers in residential neighbourhoods Muscat, which needs to be stopped immediately.”
On Tuesday, the Municipality announced that people who hang their laundry to dry in the balconies could face a hefty fine ranging from OMR50-OMR5000.
According to Article 14 of Muscat Municipality's law, "Hanging out [visible] laundry on the balconies of buildings is a violation which can lead to a fine of between OMR50-OMR5000 or a jail sentence between 24 hours and 6 months.”
An official spokesperson from Muscat Municipality said that they have started fining people in the capital for hanging out [visible] laundry on the balconies of buildings.
“Many people were fined for drying their clothes on balconies. Expat workers of South Asian nationalities were the most who were fined for hanging their laundry in the open. This practice of hanging laundry in the open to dry in the balconies is seen less among local community members. In general, such activities will decline as people will be more aware about it,” the official said.
Residents, however, said drying clothes in balconies is an eyesore, as it distorts the image of the city.
“I am so glad that the Muscat Municipality has finally come up with this solution. In fact, I was at the verge of writing an official letter to them bringing this matter to their attention. Oman, undoubtedly, is a beautiful country, and as true citizens of the country, we should be giving in our 100 per cent towards maintaining the beauty by starting bringing about changes from our homes.
“A small thing like hanging laundry in an open space that is visible to a passerby can definitely make a difference as it not only affects the look of your house or apartment, but the country itself.
"Imagine taking a stroll on Muttrah cornice, enjoy the stunning view of the port and inhaling the fresh breeze and the sound of birds chirping, and then you see people’s laundry hanging out of the balconies,” Tehmina, a Pakistani expat living in the country for almost five years, said.
Another expat from Lebanon, Armin, confessed that when he moved to Oman 11 years ago, he used to follow the same ritual of hanging out his washed laundry in the balcony like they did back in the country but gradually realised that it didn’t look right.
“You know coming from a small town in Lebanon, it is pretty common for us to dry out the laundry in balconies. I did the same in the beginning for a couple of months and then one day while driving to home, I stopped and looked how unpleasant the building looks because of my laundry. Since then, I made the habit of hanging my laundry inside and also asked my wife do the same after I got married.