Factories to be inspected for EMP and Wastewater Treatment Plant activity

December 7, 2017

Factories will be inspected for Environmental Management Plan and Wastewater Treatment Plant activities, said Daw Khin Thida Tin, the Director of Yangon Region Environmental Conservation Department.

“There are weak points in dumping wastewater from some factories. In addition, they are not well-prepared for the Environmental Management Plan. Supervision Committee chairmen for respective regions and states Environmental Conservation and Climate Change will lead inspections in cooperation with the departments concerned. The cabinet will soon release official documents regarding inspections of factories”, she continued.

Factories are encouraged to strictly adhere to environmental emission guidelines in setting up wastewater treatment plants within nine months, as mentioned in the official announcement. If they fail to establish the wastewater treatment plant and abide by the prescribed procedures, action will have taken against them under the existing laws.

“Some factories do not know about it, but others intentionally refuse to do this. This being so, we will initially set the awareness period or implementation period. We will report those businessmen who attempt to defy the order to respective regional and state government”, said Daw Khin Thida Tin.

Commencing from FY 2015-2016, Environmental Management Plan Report is a must for businesses to seek approval from Myanmar Investment Commission to run the factories. However, some factories have found weaknesses in following the rules and some EMP Report shows flaws. Therefore, further notice will be made.

The EMP implementation organizations were described in general and no organization structure and no terms of reference were mentioned. Also, there are weaknesses in giving commitments, parameters frequency and geographical location, said Daw Khin Thida Tin.

It is a good move for the government regarding with EMP activities for the factories. However, the businessmen are currently faced with challenges and difficulties, said U Aye Thaung, the chairman of Shwe Lin Pan Industrial Zone Management Committee.

“We found blockage problem in drainage system inside and outside of the zone. In addition, we have to make self-help repair on the roads in the zone. EMP activities in the zone will not be effective until the blockage drainage system outside of the zone is resolved”, he continued.

In addition to performances of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation, concerted efforts and inclusive participation are needed to be made by all the stakeholders engaged in environmental conservation to reap a fruitful result, said Daw Khin Thida Tin.

By May Thet Hnin

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar