Stiffer fines needed to fight water pollution

THE Minister of Environment and Tourism is pushing for stiffer punishment for polluting the country’s water supplies.

“Control measures are often expensive and it is likely that commercial enterprises producing toxic discharges might be tempted to take shortcuts,” Minister Phillemon Malima said during debate on the Water Resources Management Bill on Tuesday. “It is imperative that this matter be taken seriously as our water supply is otherwise at serious risk of contamination,” he said.Malima’s argument comes in the wake of recent discoveries that Windhoek’s water sources are being contaminated by effluent generated by the Ramatex Textile Factory.Textile factories are among the most environmentally hazardous industries in the world.Malima said sentences had to be severe enough to act as a deterrent.The bill proposes a fine not exceeding N$4 000, or a prison term of no longer than a year, or both, if a person is found guilty of illegally disposing of waste water.An offender may also be ordered to pay compensation for any damage suffered as a result.Malima said he wanted the basic fine to be increased because it was often difficult to quantify the extent of environmental damage and long-term contamination in monetary terms “Once contaminated, many water sources cannot be effectively decontaminated,” Malima reminded the house.The Environment Minister said the Water Bill would complement an Environmental Management and Assessment Bill currently being prepared.”It is imperative that this matter be taken seriously as our water supply is otherwise at serious risk of contamination,” he said.Malima’s argument comes in the wake of recent discoveries that Windhoek’s water sources are being contaminated by effluent generated by the Ramatex Textile Factory.Textile factories are among the most environmentally hazardous industries in the world.Malima said sentences had to be severe enough to act as a deterrent.The bill proposes a fine not exceeding N$4 000, or a prison term of no longer than a year, or both, if a person is found guilty of illegally disposing of waste water.An offender may also be ordered to pay compensation for any damage suffered as a result.Malima said he wanted the basic fine to be increased because it was often difficult to quantify the extent of environmental damage and long-term contamination in monetary terms “Once contaminated, many water sources cannot be effectively decontaminated,” Malima reminded the house.The Environment Minister said the Water Bill would complement an Environmental Management and Assessment Bill currently being prepared.