‘Environment polluters, abusers to face stricter penalties’

AMMAN — The draft environment protection law stipulates stricter penalties against polluters and abusers of the environment and links the volume of the fine with the impact of the violation, a senior government official said on Tuesday.

Environment Minister Taher Shakhshir said the bill taps on new environment issues and identifies violations that did not exist in the previous law.

“The first environment protection law was introduced in 2005, when there was not much attention on the environment or environment violations compared to now. Therefore, we decided to introduce a new law that fills the gaps in the current law and stipulates stricter penalties against violators,” Shakhshir told The Jordan Times in a phone interview.

The bill contains articles on electronic, chemical, hazardous and prohibited waste; management of mineral oils; and ozone-depleting materials.

“The new law is published on the ministry’s website now [http://www.moenv.gov.jo]. We aim at collecting the public’s feedback on its new articles. In addition, we are consulting with previous environment ministers and different stakeholders, such as the chambers of industry and environment organisations,” the minister said.

He noted that the ministry wants all stakeholders to agree on the draft before it is approved.

“The draft law will be referred to the Cabinet by the end of the holy month of Ramadan. It will be then sent to the Legislative and Opinion Bureau for amendments,” Shakhshir said.

The bill also encourages green investments, intensifies monitoring over industries, enhances protection of the Kingdom’s natural resources and features new regulations to keep pace with developments since the first environment protection law was issued.