Environmental crime is an illegal act which directly harms the environment.
According to reports, the crime that is fourth most serious criminal activity worldwide is growing by five to seven percent each year.
The Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), during its investigation from August 8-14, found top environmental polluters in violation of the 2018 environmental law in Kamonyi, Muhanga and Gakenke districts.
Mining activities
REMA found that at least five mining companies, five clay-mining activities, and four sand-mining activities in the districts Kamonyi, Muhanga and Gakenke pollute the environment.
The probe found that the mining companies were causing soil erosion, polluting rivers, wetlands and failing to rehabilitate the mining sites.
Minerals washed in streams, rivers and lakes are fined with Rwf3 million according to the law.
The agency also discovered that some suspended miners were operating illegally without a license.
“Some were operating without complying with recommendations from Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study,” reads part of the report released on Tuesday.
Environmental Impact Assessment is a tool used to assess the significant effects of a project or development proposal on the environment.
EIAs help project decision makers to think about the possible effects on the environment early enough to avoid, reduce, or offset them.
Inspectors also discovered that there were no employees working in environmental protection at the investigated mining companies.
Industries and public buildings
According to the report owners of public buildings and industries have failed to comply with the IEA in order to avoid potential effects on the environment at an early stage.
Six of them were investigated during the inspection.
It also shows that the industries and public buildings are not sorting out waste and have not embraced waste water treatment.
“The institutions were operating yet they have never conducted Environmental Impact Assessment,” reads the report.
The law says that launching a project that may have harmful effects on the environment without an assessment attracts suspension of activities or closure besides being compelled to rehabilitate the damage to the environment plus an administrative fine of two percent of the total cost of the project.
Washing bays at wetlands
The investigation found that vehicles are being washed and discharging waste water into wetlands while some are dumping waste into the wetlands.
“Those washing vehicles should be using licensed car washing stations. Washing vehicles in wetlands pollutes the water sources and degrades biodiversity,” REMA warns.
Anybody who attempts to change the nature of a protected wetland other than research or science is subject to an administrative penalty of Rwf5,000,000. They are also ordered to rehabilitate any damages.
Packaging for bakery products in plastic
Despite the fact that single-use plastic items are now prohibited under the 2019 environmental law inspections found that some bakeries still package bread in plastics.
It was found that other food items were also being packaged in plastics and single-use plastics.
The report also disclosed businesses that are still retailing single use plastics such as straws, folks, cups among others.
REMA claims that at least 1,560 Kilogrammes single-use plastic items were collected during the investigation for recycling.
The law states that wholesalers of single-use plastic items and plastic bags are subject to an administrative fine of Rwf700,000.
A retailer is subject to an administrative fine of Rwf300,000. Also, the retailer will be ordered to surrender all plastic bags and other items.
Dumping waste on Mount Kigali
“A lot of waste is being dumped on Mount Kigali,” says the report, adding that mismanaged waste pollutes the environment and causes diseases.
Any person who piles, abandons, disposes of wastes or dump waste water or materials on unauthorized public or private places pays fine of Rwf50,000 and is ordered to remove substances or rehabilitate damages.
If the Acts are committed in violation of a waste treatment authorization, the person is subject to an administrative penalty of Rwf5,000,000 and his/her authorization is also suspended or withdrawn.
Mount Kigali, where waste dumping was found, is one of the places in Kigali that is being developed into tourist destination.
You can remove immature trees
The inspection on construction projects also uncovered that 15 housing construction projects are using illegally harvested ‘immature trees’ instead of using metals or planks.
A person who uses immature timber in construction can face fines of up to Rwf300,000.00 or Rwf1 Million depending on the size and type of the house.
A driver of a truck carrying immature harvested trees faces Rwf500,000 fine while a person who illegally sells immaturely harvested trees is punished with a Rwf1 million fine.
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Source: rnewtimes
