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Fuel companies summoned by govt
21 Aug 2014 at 19:12hrs | Views
Fuel service station operators have been summoned to appear before an inter-ministerial committee on water pollution on Monday next week.
Zuva, Total, Redan, Engen, Petro-trade, and Unifreight and the Minister of Energy and Power Development, Dzikamai Mavhaire, have been summoned to appear before the inter-ministerial committee on water pollution to answer to their failure to comply with the 30 June deadline to install oil and silt interceptors at their service stations.
The Minister of Environment, Water and Climate, Saviour Kasukuwere, has promised to deal harshly with service station operators saying they are polluting underground water sources and water bodies that supply water for domestic needs to cities and towns.
"We are going to read the riot act on Monday to these companies," said Kasukuwere.
Speaking to journalists during the inter-ministerial cabinet committee meeting held in the capital on Thursday, Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Ignatius Chombo said government would assist the Environmental Management Agency in dealing with errant companies that fail to curb pollution.
"This is not business as usual, but we want to make sure the environment is cleaned up," Dr Chombo said.
Dr Chombo added that it had been established that service stations, premises of transport operators, garages and car repair workshops were discharging oil, grease and silt into the environment, thereby polluting underground water.
Meanwhile, local authorities have been commended for the steps they are taking to deal with raw sewage, which at times was being discharged into river bodies.
Zuva, Total, Redan, Engen, Petro-trade, and Unifreight and the Minister of Energy and Power Development, Dzikamai Mavhaire, have been summoned to appear before the inter-ministerial committee on water pollution to answer to their failure to comply with the 30 June deadline to install oil and silt interceptors at their service stations.
The Minister of Environment, Water and Climate, Saviour Kasukuwere, has promised to deal harshly with service station operators saying they are polluting underground water sources and water bodies that supply water for domestic needs to cities and towns.
"We are going to read the riot act on Monday to these companies," said Kasukuwere.
Speaking to journalists during the inter-ministerial cabinet committee meeting held in the capital on Thursday, Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Ignatius Chombo said government would assist the Environmental Management Agency in dealing with errant companies that fail to curb pollution.
"This is not business as usual, but we want to make sure the environment is cleaned up," Dr Chombo said.
Dr Chombo added that it had been established that service stations, premises of transport operators, garages and car repair workshops were discharging oil, grease and silt into the environment, thereby polluting underground water.
Meanwhile, local authorities have been commended for the steps they are taking to deal with raw sewage, which at times was being discharged into river bodies.
Source - zbc
