Environment protection:

Industrialists defy law

*Over 6,900 industries break CEA rules

*Legal action against over 100 industries

Over 200 taken to task in 2009

Rasika Somarathna

Around 6,980 industrial ventures belonging to all categories have found to be operating illegally violating environment protection laws, a Central Environment Authority (CEA) survey revealed.

CEA Chairman Charitha Herath said that these industries were found to be operating without an Environment Protection Certificate sanctioned as essential by the authorities. He said the CEA would initiate legal action against these industries using powers vested in them under the National Environment Act. The Certificate is given by the CEA to companies after assessing their operational procedures to see whether they comply with environmental regulations. The program uses a methodological assessment of operations with respect to contamination and general risks.

It requires compliance with environmental regulations and set standards. The certificate encourages the use of the best operating and engineering practices to prevent and take measures to protect the environment.

Herath said industries which do not comply with there standards were a threat to the environment.

The objective of the survey by the CEA Research and Special Project Division is to develop an industrial data base with spatial information of industries of ‘A’ , ‘B’ and ‘C’ categories.

This information would later be used to monitor industrial activities, he added.

The survey is under way to identify industries which comply with the set environment regulations and those who violate it.

Herath yesterday observed that at a time when Sri Lanka was on the path of accelerated development the need to comply with environment regulations were felt more than ever.

He said development initiatives that does not comply with environment regulations were being rejected world over and Sri Lanka too was adopting a strong stand in this regard.

The CEA has initiated legal action on more than 100 industries in the Western province which did not comply with the set standards up to August 2010. In 2009 more than 200 industries were taken to task in this regard. Herath said the CEA would periodically conduct, coordinate and facilitate environmental research, surveys and dissemination of information to improve and maintain the quality of environment of Sri Lanka . He said the CEA will take action against any wrongdoers who violate laws.