Pumping of waste into the sea at a price

Residents, hoteliers and others located along the coast will be liable to an annual fee if they are to pump their waste matter into the ocean, according to new regulations put out by the Government.

Residents who channel their waste and waste water into the sea will be required to pay an annual fee of Rs. 5,000, while hotels, restaurants and other industries will be charged anything between Rs. 100,000 to Rs 500,000, subject to the volume of waste.

According to Marine Environment Protection Authority (ME- PA) Chairman Thilak Wijeywardene, the move was aimed largely at reducing the high volume of pollution that is being discharged into the ocean from the land. The worst affected areas are the southern and western coastal areas where there is a large concentration of the tourism industry.

He added that the other bad areas are the fishing villages in several coastal areas, where there are large populations, mainly fisher folk, who will also have to fall in line with the new regulations.

“For the moment, we have carried out several ground awareness campaigns for the hotels and even to the schools, in order to educate the people on the fall out from marine pollution, so that such laws would prove a deterent.

“We are on to a huge programme and intend implementing the first stage at Hikkaduwa and Mount Lavinia-two known tourist destinations - and later spread elsewhere.

“All residents, hoteliers, restaurant operators and others using the coast will be educated on how to manage their respective waste and the necessary requirements such as a permit, etc. The application for a permit will cost Rs 1,500,” Mr Wijeywardene said.He added that the MEPA currently operates 18 district offices throughout the country, with an active cadre of 143 hands. ”We are now in the process of increasing the cadre, while offices will also be opened in the north and east at the very earliest,” he said.

”All maritme vessels opting to pump waste into the sea will also be charged a fee, after prior inspection on the nature of the waste, quantity and to ascertain if it is a threat to marine life.

“There will be no ad hoc issuance of permits. All applications will be carefully screened before they are allowed to dump any waste into the sea,” he said.