Laws to check garbage-dumpers

by Ananda KANNANGARA

The Environment and Natural Resources Ministry will take legal action to crackdown on persons who regularly throw used items on highways.

The law will come into force shortly and persons who are engaged in throwing polythene papers and paper bags on highways will be fined on the spot.

The program was initiated along with the `Garbage Free Sri Lanka in 2012' program, launched by the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) on the emission testing of motor vehicles.Environment and Natural Resources Minister Champika Ranawaka told the Sunday Observer that the Vehicle emission testing program has helped reduce the adverse impact on the environment.

The Minister said steps have been taken to prohibit parking vehicles with activated engines near schools."When parking vehicles with activated engines, it would not only disrupt educational activities but also emit carbon monoxide that could causes cough, asthma and various other respiratory diseases among children," he said.