Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Centre organises training for Ashghal staff

As per the request of the Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’, the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Centre organised a training course on “New Road Occupancy Law” that covered the Law No. 14 for the year 2015 about road occupancy.

The training session held over two days in Ashghal’s Assets Affairs building was attended by Ashghal employees who were nominated to become enforcement officers of the particular law. The first day of the training included a presentation that explained the Law No (14) for the year 2015 about road occupancy and stating stipulated violations. It also covered the concept and the new law acts, in addition to clarifying the public and private road occupancy law and showcasing offences that are controlled by this law. The presentation also explained how to prove, issue and deal with violations.

The first training day was covered by Dr. Bashir Saad Zaghloul, Teacher of Criminal Law at the College of Law at Qatar University. He showcased some samples of issuing violations, and concluded his session with a discussion with the trainees to exchange information. Whereas the second day was covered by Mr. Ahmed Matar Al Dousari, Environmental Prosecutor at the Public Prosecution, who reviewed and discussed practical cases related to this law.

The training aimed to show all kinds of Road Occupancy Law and way of coordination, explaining the different types of violations under this law. The training also aimed at helping Ashghal’s proposed law enforcement officers to understand all legal aspects that surround their job and to gain the legal skills in working with violations and fixing them, and learning the key data that needs to be included in the violation record. It is worth mentioning that the Public Works Authority plans to coordinate with the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Centre to hold similar training sessions in English in the coming months.

The Law No. 14 of year 2015 regarding road occupancy was issued by order of H.H. Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar on Wednesday, August 19, 2015. The law forbids laying utility pipes or maintaining them or occupying the road with anything that might affect traffic safety, unless a permit is obtained from the concerned department in the Public Works Authority. The concerned department at the Public Works Authority coordinates with the Traffic Department of MoI to issue the license for the contractors, consultants or other relevant entities to implement temporary closure of a road or part thereto and to provide traffic diversions if required. The concerned department is also responsible for supervision and monitoring of these works.

According to this law, the licensee shall comply with the conditions, technical procedures, and the period specified in the license, in accordance with the conditions and technical specifications approved by the concerned department. The licensee shall also abide by the guidelines for excavation works within the right of way as approved by the concerned department. The law also binds on the licensee to restore the public road to the previous status after completions of works.