Ensuring a safe environment

With the advent of the open economy and the boom in industries little or no attention was paid to their impact on the environment. At the time the Government driven by its pledge to provide mass employment paid no attention to how this was done. Industries started mushrooming all over the metropolis.

A majority of these ventures were put up haphazardly with no thought to environmental consequences. There were complaints of pollution of rivers and waterways by the discharge of chemical waste by certain industries. But the Government could not afford to take action lest they put up shutters throwing thousands out of jobs. Besides environment laws were in their nascent stage and pollution went by default. Phenomenons such as global warming had yet to make their impact in these parts of the world.

However the problem aggravated over the years and has today reached serious proportions.

According to our main story yesterday nearly 7,000 industrial ventures belonging to all categories are found to be operating without the Environment Protection Certificate which is compulsory under the National Environment Act. The certificate is issued by the CEA to Companies after assessing their operational procedure to ensure these companies comply with environmental regulations and set guidelines. Legal action has been initiated against 100 industries in the Western Province alone.

With growing industrialization of the country there is a likelihood of the problem aggravating further. Today the post war development boom has seen a steady growth of industrial activity. While a majority of the industries may have complied with environmental requirements, as our report indicates there are also sizable numbers who have flouted the law.

Today we see land filling everywhere to set up industrial ventures. These lands more often than not are marshy lands that play the role of retaining rainwater thus preventing flooding. What is more, roadways too have been cut across these marshy lands to allow access to these industries. More and more of these watersheds are being filled up or earmarked for building upon. The recent unprecedented flooding even in areas that had never experienced floods before, illustrates the gravity of the problem.

The CEA should not confine itself to mere policing of environment pollution. It should actively engage itself in preventing the ‘sponge’ land from being reclaimed for industrial ventures. In fact it should act to prevent all illegal constructions in our nature reserves.

According to our report the CEA certificate is given to companies after assessment of operations with regard to contamination and general risks. This is a procedure adopted after the setting up of the company. However special attention should be paid as regards the siting of the companies to begin with. For, the massive destruction caused as a result of flooding bears no comparison to any immediate environmental hazard. Therefore the CEA should co-ordinate with the Lands Ministry, the UDA or whatever agency responsible for sanctioning land for industrial ventures to ensure their locating sites would not result in further aggravation of natural disasters such as floods.

Measures should also be taken to halt noise pollution. Today the din and racket caused by heavy industries have become more than a major irritant to the general public. It has interfered with their daily existence. Some of these heavy industries are located in highly residential areas disrupting normal life.

The numerous complaints one reads today in the public columns in newspapers is reflective of the prolonged suffering endured by communities due to noise pollution caused by these heavy industries which intrudes into children’s school homework and also aggravating health problems of the old and the sick. No doubt most of these industries have come up with political help and thus no action is taken.

The Government should not hesitate to act against industries that violate environmental laws and guidelines. True, these ventures may be providing employment but they cannot be allowed to flout the law and carry on with impunity. It has to look at the larger picture and assess the harm caused as a result of noise pollution and its impact on community well-being.

The licences should be revoked of those heavy industries who continue to be a public nuisance. Ideally all such heavy industries should be relocated away from residential areas where they not be a hindrance to the public. It is hoped that when drawing up its development plans for the future this aspect would receive the serious attention of the Government.