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Ras Al Khaimah: The Environmental Protection and Development Authority (EPDA) recommended on Saturday that real estate developers should deal only with rock quarries and crushers that implement the environmental requirements and stick to the Federal Law No 24 for the year 1999 and the emirate's relative regulations.
Dr Saif M. Al Ghais, Executive Director of the EPDA, said it is unfair to equate crushers who spend millions on environmental issues with others which do not implement such measures. In an interview with Gulf News, Al Ghais announced that the EPDA has just set up an experimental 'Wheel Washing' system where the wheels of heavy vehicles are carefully washed before they get to the streets.
Following are excerpts from the interview:
Gulf News: Has the EPDA shut down any crushers in RAK recently?
Dr Saif M. Al Ghais: The authority shut down three crushers recently that delayed implementation of environmental requirements.
The authority cancelled the commercial licence of one of the crushers that committed a serious mistake at severing the natural materials. What is the penalty on violators?
For any violation, the authority sends a letter as a first warning. If no action is taken, the authority freezes blasting in the violating quarry or shuts down either part or all operations at the site depending on the problem in addition to fines.
Some quarries are owned by local governments, while others are owned by prominent businessmen. Does the EPDA use double standards in handling them?
We have only one set of standards and the authority does not differentiate between what is owned by the government or others. Also I must state that the government quarries are implementing the highest environmental measures.
There has been some statements coming from the ministry on closing quarries in the northern emirates and relocating them in other far away places, what is your reaction to that?
Unfortunately such a statement has no meaning especially when it represents an individual view. The law states that the management of the quarries shall be handled by local authorities and the Ministry. We have not been informed of any such concern by the Federal Environment Agency (FEA) or the Ministry.
Residents of Khor Khowair have complained about the dust from quarries in their area, and yet this business in vital not only for RAK but for the entire UAE. How does the authority keep this balance?
Quarries are not the main source of dust. We should focus on traffic and other industries or activities such as construction. It is not an easy job, but at the same time we are seeking international standards to control any emission. Development is a must but protecting our people comes first.
Propagation of dust, to a certain extent, causes some health problems. But when improving lifestyles are mixed with so many complicated factors, it is unfair to put all the blame on quarries, crushers and cement factories as the main agents for such forms of pollution.
What is the authority's stand on vehicles loaded with rocks and sand and sent to other emirates?
We are working on measures to control emission from such vehicles. The EPDA is concerned with the movement of heavy vehicles and new measures will shortly be imposed.
The issue of working hours at the quarries and crushers has been problematic, and some complaints from the public have been reported, what was the attitude of the EPDA?
Several crushers have been shut down and officially warned because of their working hours. No blasting is allowed during the night shift.
Only a handful of the crushers in the emirate work round-the-clock and the authority is keen to ascertain total compliance to reduce noise pollution.
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- Compiled by Mohammad Jihad/Community Web Journalist
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