MVR 300k environmental violation fine on Alimatha reduced to MVR 45k
The regulations prohibit any kind of trash from being dumped into the sea.
By
Fathmath Ahmed Shareef
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reduced the fine of over MVR 300,000 that it had imposed on Alimatha Resort, run by the Nakai Group, for dumping garbage into the sea to MVR 45,000 on appeal.
Nakai Alimatha Resort at Vaavu atoll was fined MVR 312,750 in July last year. Asking the resort to pay the fine within a month, the EPA said the fine was imposed in accordance with the Waste Management Act and in accordance with the regulations under the Environment Protection Act.
However, according to a notification issued on Tuesday, the fine has been revised to MVR 45,000.
The notification, which asked the resort to pay the amount within a month, said the fine was revised after Alimatha Resort filed an appeal and the environment ministry directed the agency to amend the fine after investigating the matter.
The EPA said:
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There is no document to prove that Alimatha Resort has illegally dumped garbage in the sea for a period of 2-3 months.
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This is the first time that Alimatha Resort is being penalised for violating waste management regulations
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The agency has also asked to submit within a month's time the waste management plan on how to deal with the waste generated at the resort
The regulations prohibit any kind of garbage from being dumped into the sea.
If the rule is violated:
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A fine between MVR 1,000 and MVR 10,000 can be levied for the first time
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A fine between MVR 50,000 and MVR 100,000 if repeated
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The ministry also has the power to revoke permission of a resort if it repeats the offence more than once
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