75 prohibition and 214 non-compliance notices issued between August 2021 to July last year

A total of 75 prohibition notices and 214 non-compliance notices were issued between August 2021 to July last year.

The Director of Environment Sandeep Singh, stated that the department will not entertain facilities who are not compliant with the code of practice and the criteria that has been gazetted.

Singh says they as decision makers cannot be confident enough to be able to rely on the data and science provided by those who are not authorized to do so.

The Director adds this was in relation to the Environment Impact Assessment and Waste and Pollution Control.

She also says once the Environment Impact Assessment is done based on the terms of reference issued by the Department of Environment, the EIA must be done by a registered Consultant with the right expertise, the EIA report must be submitted within one year of the Terms of Reference being approved, and then the review process starts.

Singh also says during this period a review committee is appointed which is made up of experts.

She further says the department has not met the processing timelines that has been legislated for most because of resourcing.

The Director says she has raised concerns with the Minister for Environment that the department needs financial and human resources, and technical expertise to be able to meet the timelines.