UAE | Environment
Quarries in UAE must follow new environmental law says minister
All stone quarries and crushing companies must implement all aspects of the new environmental law within a year or face severe penalties, the Minister of Environment and Water said.
- By Fuad Ali, Staff Reporter
- Published: 17:20 June 18, 2008
Fujairah: All stone quarries and crushing companies must implement all aspects of the new environmental law within a year or face severe penalties, the Minister of Environment and Water said.
Dr Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahd was speaking after an open seminar held in Al Aqah, Fujairah, which discussed ways of implementing the Cabinet Resolution No. (10/10) of 2008, concerning the regulation of the crushing and quarries activities.
The new resolution puts in place strict guidelines for local and federal authorities to tighten the scrutiny on an industry some accuse of causing considerable health and environmental damage in Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah.
The Environment and Water Minister said although the crushing industry performs an important economic role, that should not be on the expense of a negative environment and health impact.
He said: "All new establishments will have to implement all the measures right from the beginning, but existing companies will have just one year to adapt to the new law. Failure to do so will result in stringent measure that will include full operational shut down."
The new resolution reinforces previous environmental laws, but crucially it obligates the stone crushing companies to follow strict environmental protection measure under the threat of legal action or even full closure.
The seminar was attended by officials from the federal and local governments as well as a high number of executives of stone crushing companies from both Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah.
As well as the environmental impact, presentations also highlighted a number of health hazards of the industry, which could affect both labourers and local residents.
Apart from noise levels that could cause hearing damage to employees and a nuisance to nearby residents, air-born dust, attendees heard, could cause a number of respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses.
Many representatives from the industry welcomed the new resolution and promised to adopt the new measures, but there were some who insisted the environmental impact of their business was somewhat exaggerated.
Some industry executives at the seminar complained that implementing the new measure will significantly increase their production costs.
Companies are required to use measures and technologies to cut down on air-born dust and noise levels to be implemented on site and during the transportation of raw and crushed material.
Speakers at the seminar included Ali Qasim, Head of the Environment Protection Section at Fujairah Municipality who insisted his section is already undertaking huge efforts to scrutinize and enforce environmental regulations.
Dr Sultan Al Moadhen, Member of the Federal National Council and Chairman of the Provisional Committee for Monitoring Environmental Pollution, said the implementation of the environmental resolution must be enforced by the federal government and not left to local authorities who - he said - proved to be ‘unreliable'.
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