Engineer Ashraf Fathy Mahmoud, Head of the New Damietta City Development Authority, announced that 28 closure and sealing orders have been carried out against shops operating without the required licenses in the commercial markets of the First and Fourth Districts.
The campaign also targeted violations involving encroachment on the designated building line in violation of the law, with utility services disconnected from the non-compliant establishments.
The head of the New Damietta City Development Authority explained that the enforcement actions were carried out by the authority’s permanent committee for the implementation of removal, encroachment, and occupancy violation decisions in cooperation with the Construction Police Department and the New Damietta Electricity Department.
The campaign was conducted in line with the directives of Engineer Randa El Menshawy, Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities, to firmly address illegal occupations and encroachments in new cities while preserving their urban appearance.
He further clarified that the closures were imposed due to violations of the laws and regulations governing commercial activities, as some citizens had been operating businesses in locations not authorized for professional or commercial use without obtaining the necessary approvals.
The Head of the Authority warned violators against reopening the shops before consulting the relevant departments within the Authority to regularize their legal status. He stressed that no tolerance would be shown toward violations or encroachments, emphasizing that strict enforcement is essential to maintaining the city’s civilized and aesthetic appearance.
He also affirmed that these inspection and enforcement campaigns will continue on a regular basis to prevent the spread of unplanned activities and preserve the city’s urban and visual standards.
The Head of the New Damietta City Development Authority added that field monitoring and inspection operations will continue daily and around the clock across all neighborhoods and residential areas to prevent any form of illegal activity or urban violations without leniency. He emphasized that all legal procedures must be implemented immediately once a violation is confirmed.
He concluded by noting that, in cases where violators seek reconciliation after committing the offense, they may regularize their status by complying with all required financial obligations and obtaining the necessary approvals and licenses for activities appropriate to the designated area.