KUWAIT: Acting Municipality Director Ahmed Al-Manfouhi told Al-Rai newspaper yesterday that the municipality will soon make an announcement allowing barbequing at certain locations that have been environmentally regulated and readied.

The locations include parks and other spots along the seafront that will be available for free. Manfouhi said that the municipality formed a special committee including representatives from TEC, PAAAFR and EPA to decide on suggested locations in a way that meets environmental conditions and regulations stated in the new environment law.

"Very strict measures will be taken against those who barbeque in non-designated locations," he warned, pointing out that all locations would monitored by the municipality. He also noted that a meeting would be held soon to decide on these locations and declare them open for barbequing.

Municipal council member Ali Al-Moussa said a lack of services and periodic maintenance had been behind the previous environmental destruction caused by barbequing and stressed the need to have new regulations including conditioning the use of environment-friendly charcoal and selling it to picnickers at reasonable prices.