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To avert a major catastrophe in the South Asian region, the South Asia Co-Operative Environment Programme (SACEP) will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) shortly with its member states to give teeth to the Oil Spill Contingency plan proposed by the SACEP some time back, the Environment and Natural Resources Minister Rukman Senanayake said.

Addressing the members of the Governing Council of the South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP) conference in Colombo last week

Minister Senanayake said the MoU was taken up at the SACEP's second Intergovernmental Ministerial meeting held in Sri Lanka last June.

Asked what immediate measures have been taken by the SACEP to avert an imminent oil spill in the region, the Minister replied that fortunately a major disastrous oil spill had not occurred in the region in the past.

SACEP is a recognised international organisation which has a history of achievements in respect of regional cooperation on environmental issues. The Male Declaration had paved the way for intergovernmental cooperation in reducing air pollution in South Asia. This was a significant achievement which was endorsed by Environment Ministers in South Asian countries.

Meanwhile, several vital issues pertaining to the environment came up for review at the South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP) where several Ministers from South Asian countries such as Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, India, Maldives and Sri Lanka participated.

The Indian delegation led by Mr. K. C. Mishra said that protection and management of Marine Environment and Coastal Eco-system have emerged as an important area of common concern for the regional cooperation. "My ministry is in the process of preparing a national action plan under the global programme for the protection of the marine environment. We are in agreement with the issues covered in the MoU regarding the marine and Chemical Oil Spill Contingency Planning for South Asia," he said.

The SACEP was set up in 1981 when Sri Lanka hosted the SACEP conference. The SACEP has been able to build partnerships with various donor agencies such as NORAD, IMO, SIDA and the UNEP. The SAARC Secretary General and representatives from the United Nations agencies and International Organisations attended the meeting as observers.

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