By JAMES KUNDA
THE Zambia Environmental Agency (ZEMA) has sued Zamastone Limited, a stone-crushing company based in Lusaka for failure to comply with environmental management regulations.
ZEMA principal information and communication officer Irene Chipili said the agency had also taken legal action against the firm for obstruction of an inspector, who went to scrutinize the premises where it operates from in Lusaka West.
Ms Chipili said ZEMA on August 28, 2014 issued a Compliance Order to Zamastone Limited for non-compliance to the provisions of the Environmental Management Act (EMA) Number 12 of 2011 as read with the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations No. 28, of 1997.
“Subsequently, a Decision Letter for the stone-crushing facility by Zamastone Limited which was issued on May 30, 2014 and Zamastone Limited’s operations have been suspended,” she said.
Ms Chipili said in addition to this action, ZEMA on September 1, 2014 filed a complaint against the Zamastone Limited, administration manager Chimuka Himachila for obstructing an inspector who had gone to serve the Compliance Order.
She said Mr Himachila not only refused to sign the Compliance Order but obstructed ZEMA inspectors from carrying out their duties.
“Mr Himachila is liable for an offence under the EMA No. 12 of 2011, Section 15 (5) (b) and (a) and he will appear for plea before chief resident magistrate, Joshua Banda on September 11, 2014 in the Lusaka magistrate court,” she said.
She said ZEMA has ordered Zamastone to put in place adequate measures to comprehensively mitigate dust pollution from its integrated crusher.
Ms Chipili said the conditions issued by ZEMA include that Zamastone embarks on a progressive rehabilitation, covers its crushers and employs a wet process to reduce dust generation and air pollution.
“Zamastone is also expected to handle waste in an environment-friendly manner and dispose it off at a ZEMA licensed disposal site,” she said.”
ZEMA takes this opportunity to remind all licensed facilities to adhere to the conditions stipulated by environmental law and other relevant laws and uphold environmental friendly practices”.
