Projects not meeting CEA standards to be grounded

The Government has the right to halt any project if necessary to ensure that any environmental risks and hazards are adequately dealt with, the country's new environment regulator head told the 'Sunday Observer'.

by Dhaneshi Yatawara

CEA Chairman, Professor Lal Mervin Dharmasiri

The debate of over prioritising environment conservation and development is chaotic. People in Chunnakam, Jaffna are suffering from the lack of safe drinking water due to ground water contamination.

Of late environmentalists are raising questions over environment assessment for the Sampur power plant and the Uma Oya irrigation development plan.

Since the Environment Minister is President Maithripala Sirisena, the Central Environment Authority(CEA), the main controlling and monitoring government institute set up under the National Environment Act seems to be in a better position to implement ruoles and regulations.

The newly appointed CEA Chairman, Professor Lal Mervin Dharmasiri said a mechanism will be set up to monitor projects at ground level.

Dharmasiri a professor in Geography previously attached to the University of Kelaniya specialised in natural resource management and sustainable agriculture. He is the author of several environment- related books as well as research papers.

"What we have to do is to minimise the adverse impact caused by development activities. There are no projects that have zero damage to the environment. We only can minimise it," he said.

Excerpts of the interview.

Q : There were many allegations raised against the CEA particularly on the issue of Environment Impact Assessments(EIA). What action has the Authority taken to investigate these allegations?

A: EIAs are issued after public opinion is obtained. Even after that if we get complaints from the public we conduct investigations through a special technical team. EIAs can be given through many other institutes as well. In cases where allegations of environmental damage are rife, the Government can even stop the project and appoint the CEA to conduct an EIA.

One of the main roles of the CEA is to conduct EIAs or to appoint qualified parties - institutes or personnel - to conduct these assessments. They are selected through a strict criteria. But the Assessments are issued through the CEA after our technical committee evaluates the report submitted by the EIA team.

Drawing ground water for drinking

If the CEA technical team approves it and it is in accordance with rules and regulations, then the EIA will be published for public opinion for a period of thirty days - in newspapers and websites.

The Sampur Power plant EIA is already advertised in the newspapers about the public hearing and thirty copiewere distributed s. If the people wish to comment documents will be available at local public library, the CEA library and the District Secretariat office.

Q: If the people are to give their opinion, would the CEA give an assurance to the people that their voice will be properly heard?

A: Definitely. President Maithripala Sirisena who is also the Minister for Environment has instructed us to take the right step. He has assured that he will support the right decision. We will strictly follow rules and regulations set up by the CEA and Ministry as well as relevant acts pertaining to Environment protection.

Q: Do you think that existing Environment protecting regulations, Acts and ordinances are strong enough? Concerned groups were saying that these needed to be amended? How do you see this?

A: Already we have strict rules and regulations in place, Implementation is the issue. The officers of the CEA will do their best to put right the implementaion process. But there are practical issues depending on individual cases.

We need an integrated approach in implementing the prevailing laws and regulations. The Port City Development project is a case in point three to four institutes are involved directly. Each institute works in a different project area. Even the CEA has to work with many institutes and that is why I recommended to the President that there should be a strong network and an integrated approach in implementing laws and regulations.

Q: In recent times environmentalists raised concerns over the the Sampur power plant and Uma Oya irrigation project based on the environmental impact of these projects. Has the CEA investigated in to these or what is really happening?

A: The CEA has issued a license with several conditions. The CEA has given the authority to implement these projects and this is the normal procedure with any project that require CEA approval.

Q: A few weeks ago a serious ground water pollution issue was reported from the Chunnakam area in Jaffna. What action has the CEA taken against these? What has happened to these investigations?

A: We came to know the nature of pollution in the area and we received several complaints as well. A committee will visit Chunnakam and investigate the problem. They will then submit a report and should contain the ground situation. What are the measures taken to remove the oil from the area or give an alternative solution to overcome the issue.

Specially how to provide safe drinking water for the people. After the report we will discuss with the ministry and the relevant parties such as the National Water Supply and Drainage Board to take action.

Q: How soon are you expecting this report?

A: We are expecting the report around February 25.

Q: The National Water Supply and Drainage Board also said that they were going to begin testing ? Is the CEA investigation a separate one or are you collaborating with the Water Board?

A: I have instructed the officials in my team to communicate with the Water Board officials and get their support. Some other organisations have also researched the situation and the CEA team will coordinate with them too.

Q: Ground water is a crucial part of the Environment. Experts through research have pointed out that ground water in Sri Lanka was getting contaminated fast. What are the measures taken by the CEA to control this?

A: With the increasing population, the density of ground water has become the biggest issue. If proper action is not taken fast we will face a great difficulty.

I have already discussed this with my officials. I can understand the gravity of the problem. Already people of certain parts of the country are facing this problem. Drinking water is a must and in Sri Lanka where nearly 70% of the GDP depends on agriculture, water is essential not just for living but for livelihoods as well.

Everyone is dumping waste in these lands and others are building wells to get ground water. Chemicals will mix with the ground water thus contaminating it. The quality of ground water will deteriorate while usage increases.

I have suggested the CEA to do a macro level study on the conditions of ground water in Sri Lanka - on quality and quantity. We can also study the water requirement levels. We need to collaborate with the Water Supply and Drainage Board, universities and relevant other institutes who work on this subject based on this we can forecast the future probabilities.

Implementing proper water management techniques while protecting water resources is the aim. Polluting ground water will be controlled with the prevailing laws and regulations.

Q: We see an increasing number of news articles reporting on environment pollution. What is the level of public response to the CEA and what is the response of the CEA?

A:Normally I get around 50 petitions and complaints a day. We maintain a data base and we send to the relevant regional offices to report to me and instructions are given to take necessary action fast.

In 2014, complaints mostly came from the Western and Southern Provinces. From Colombo we received 415, Gampaha - 288 and from Kaluthara 334. Of the Southern Province Galle reported 219 , Matara 84 and Hambantota 68.

The CEA solved nearly 65 percent of these issues. I have proposed to set up a four digit hot-line for environment related complaints. It will begin operation soon.

We need more feed back from the people. When ever we open up reports and assessments for public hearing we do not get an adequate response from the public. The role of the CEA is to protect the environment. But that doesn't mean we are here to disturb the development of the country. What we have to do is to minimise the adverse damage that can be caused by development activities.