- Crackdown on LG bodies improper waste disposal
- Amendments granting stronger regulatory authority and legal powers to CEA expected to be approved in 3 months
Amendments to the National Environmental Act, No. 47 of 1980 will empower the Central Environment Authority (CEA) to regulate and take legal action against Local Government (LG) bodies that dispose of waste in an improper manner, CEA Director General (DG) Kapila Mahesh Rajapaksha said.
Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (15), Rajapaksha said that under the existing provisions of the Act, the CEA is only able to issue guidelines on waste management, with limited enforcement powers. However, the proposed amendments would grant the Authority stronger regulatory and legal powers to address the issue more effectively.
He noted the amended Act was expected to receive approval within the next three months. “At present, the CEA is unable to control the issue 100 per cent, but the new amendments will help rectify this situation,” he said.
Rajapaksha further said that, in the wake of the recent disaster situation, the CEA issued a set of special guidelines to selected LG authorities on waste disposal. As an immediate measure, instructions were issued for waste to be temporarily disposed of at designated land areas.
He said that discussions had been held with District Secretariats and Provincial Council (PC) authorities, particularly in view of concerns regarding the inadequacy of available land for waste disposal in certain areas. The CEA was working closely with these institutions to identify suitable interim solutions until longer-term arrangements could be put in place.
In addition, he said that discussions had also been held with several private sector institutions, in collaboration with the Public Administration, PCs and LG Ministry, regarding the disposal of clinical and electronic waste. He noted that steps had been taken to include the contact details of these private sector institutions as an annexure to the special guidelines issued by the CEA, to facilitate proper coordination and compliance.