The environment ministry has proposed to amend and rules introducing new methods for the adjudicating authority to assess pollution. The new chapter 8 for air pollution and chapter 11 for water pollution are to be added in the rules that contain details of the proposed adjudicating method.
The proposed rules provide details on the appointment of an adjudicating officer, how the authority will observe matters and act, how an inquiry shall be conducted, how matters can be transferred, how notice is served, what the adjudicating officer’s order shall contain and what it means, the appeal process, what is considered when deciding a penalty, what happens if the penalty is not paid and that it is to be credited online to the environmental protection fund.
New forms will also be added, which provide the format and content required in various documents under the new proposed rules. The notification also details the list of presenting officers and their respective jurisdiction(s).
Any comments and suggestions on the proposed rules can be submitted to the ministry through post or email via addresses in the official notifications, and submissions close on 19 July 2024.
