Tuesday 17 February 2015

Govt to Introduce a Standalone Environmental Protection Agency- Muluzi

Govt to Introduce a Standalone Environmental Protection Agency- Muluzi


The Minister of Natural Resources and Energy and Mining Hon. Atupele Muluzi has told National Assembly that he will soon present to the house a Environmental Protection Policy Act for review, a legislation seeks to introduce Environmental Agency.

Muluzi said this when presenting his Ministerial Statement on the Malawi Rural Electrification Programme and Power Shortages affecting the country on Monday afternoon. He said main reason of bringing the policy in the National Assembly is for the house to make its consideration.

“We are bringing to the house Environmental Protection Act for Review” said the minister in an interview

He said “What we are looking at is the establishment of Environmental Protection Agency that will be a standalone agency that will be responsible for enforcement and oversight over environmental aspects.” 

Muluzi indicated that the policy among others contain “Stiffer penalties” for those that will violet the provisions in the Act and proposes establishment of the standalone agency. 

He emphasized the importance of having a standalone environmental agency as it will be in a better place to enforce and oversee environmental aspects. 

In his statement Muluzi also informed the house that his ministry has a long term solution on energy. He promised to bring to the house the strategy and the report of the recent geological survey. He added that Compendium of geological resources will soon be released saying it is of economic interests.

He further recognized efforts by the private sector in reforestation and replanting of trees during this year’s tree planting season.

No comments:

Post a Comment