Detrimental impact on environment:

Over 6,975 illegal industries in Western Province

by Manjula FERNANDO

A recent survey conducted by the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) on industries throughout the country has revealed that 6,980 industries in the Western Province were operating without an Environmental Protection Licence (EPL) which is a legal requirement. "This is a serious situation from the environmental perspective during a period when sustainable development is being highlighted in the country," Chairman of the CEA Charitha Herath said.

"Different waste types discharged from various industrial activities have caused a detrimental impact on the environment," he said. The study was carried out by the Research and Special Project Unit of the CEA.

The chairman said that the CEA would take legal action against industrialists who continue to violate the provisions of the National Environmental Act (NEA).

The Central Environmental Authority, has the legal authority for environmental enforcement in the country.

Therefore, the Legal Unit of the CEA is taking steps to prosecute industrialists who have not obtained Environmental Protection Licences up to now.The CEA has categorised all industries in the country as small scale, medium scale and large scale based on their capacity and their pollution potential.

The survey has identified the industries that have taken EPLs while functioning in accordance with CEA standards and environmentally unfriendly industries that do not have the EPLs. The study also revealed the magnitude of the impact of various industries in line with their operations.

It is very important for the industrial community to contribute to sustainable development of Sri Lanka when the country is in an accelerated development process after the conflict. Development without environmental concerns is a concept rejected by the world. More than 100 cases have been filed in the Courts against industries operating without EPLs in 2010 and 200 such cases were filed last year.

The prosecution procedure has resulted in a number of fines, closure of industries and integrating in to the EPL procedure.The Chairman Charitha Herath said that the CEA would take legal action against environmentally unfriendly industries that do not comply with the provisions of the National Environmental Act.