Environment Protection Licences must for hospitals before Dec. 31

All private hospitals must obtain Environment Protection Licences before December 31, Environment and Natural Resources Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said.

Speaking at a ceremony to distribute Pilisaru Bandun at the Mulleriyawa Base Hospital yesterday to mark Piyakaru Purawara - Pilisaru Masaya from August 15 to September 15, the Minister said - it was launched to realise the concept of a Sri Lanka free from garbage in 2012.

Under this programme, facilities will be provided for the management of solid waste in State institutions, he said.

The Minister said the garbage at Angoda junction has been cleared.

“We have also found solutions for the garbage problem in Mulleriyawa and Kolonnawa areas. Steps have been taken to use the garbage for making comport. Most hospitals dump garbage at Bloemandhal area. We have informed all private hospitals that they must obtain an environment protection permit before December 31.

It will enable the systematic removal of waste which is injurious to the health. The permit is a must for private hospitals,” he said.

The government has successfully launched programmes for the disposal of garbage at Ragama and Karapitiya hospitals. The situation with regard to Colombo hospitals is satisfactory, Ranawaka said.

“We have already identified 7,000 factories which discharge their effluence to water resource and have also not adopted mechanisms to control the emission of toxic gas to the atmosphere. We would initiate action against these industries which pollute the environment,” he said.

“These facts may not be palatable and would be criticised. It has however to be emphasised that the Environment Ministry works on a national policy to ensure a sound environment to the future generations and not targeting the best election,” the Minister said.