The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continually faces difficulties in enforcing fines for environmental damage, EPA's Director General Ibrahim Naeem has said.
Speaking at the Parliament's Environment and Climate Change Committee on Monday, Naeem highlighted the challenges the agency encounters in recovering fines, particularly for damage to reefs.
Naeem noted that EPA does not have the authority to directly pursue legal action in court to recover fines. This, in turn, delays the process, as the cases often get stuck in the Attorney General's Office for extended periods before being forwarded to the courts. There are also instances where appeals to the minister further delay the court process, he said.
Naeem acknowledged there are delays in assessing reef damage after a vessel runs aground due to delays in removing the vessel from the site of the accident. In cases involving foreign vessels, collecting fines becomes more complex due to changes in the vessel's agent or ownership after it is sold.
Naeem mentioned that in some cases, foreign consultants are required to assess the damage to reefs when foreign vessels are fined for running aground. This occurs because there are limited professionals in the Maldives capable of conducting such assessments, he said.
Naeem further expressed concern over the insufficient budget allocated to the EPA. He said the agency usually does not have the financial ability to travel to sites when vessels cause reef damage.
According to Naeem, so far, the EPA has collected MVR 53 million in fines for reef damage. However, Naeem estimates that the total amount due exceeds MVR 300 million.
