COLOMBO:On the instructions of the Minister of Environment, Engineer Naseer Ahmed, the Central Environmental Authority has launched an island-wide survey to control environmental pollution caused by rice mills.
In terms of Gazette Extraordinary No. 2264/18 dated 27.01.2022, rice mills belonging to B, C and D categories, i.e. large scale, medium scale and small scale rice mills are to be covered by the survey. Identifying rice mills, if any, which have not been linked to the Environment Protection Licensing process and directing them to the relevant process, offering the required technical consultation assistance with the involvement of technical institutions, introducing low-cost methods for controlling environmental pollution and preventing permanently the environmental pollution caused in general by rice mills are the key objectives of this programme.
The pilot project of this survey is now being implemented in the Batticaloa district and arrangements have been put in place to conduct the activities relating to the survey in other districts from September this year.
The Minister of Environment also instructed the CEA to take appropriate measures for further strengthening the social impact made on environmental conservation through the environmental pioneer programme.
These instructions were given by the Minister of Environment, Engineer Hon. Naseer Ahmed at the weekly progress review meeting of the CEA held on Monday, August 22.
The Secretary of the Ministry of Environnment Dr. Anil Jasinghe, advisor of the Minister Mr. Karunasena Hettiarachchi, Director General of CEA, Mr. P.B. Hemantha Jayasinghe and senior officials of the Ministry of Environment and the CEA participated at this meeting held under the chairmanship of the Minister Naseer Ahmed.
