Director of Environment Protection Agency (EPA) Mohamed Naeem has stated that the former government influenced and obstructed the duties of the agency to a large degree.
Senior officials of the agency were summoned to the parliament's Environment and Climate Committee on Monday over the rise in number of trees being uprooted in islands. Representatives from several environmental advocacy organizations were also present at the committee meeting.
Answering the inquiries of the committee members, Director Naeem said the previous government had exerted their authority over EPA and influenced the agency, causing them difficulties in carrying out their responsibilities. However, the agency did not make any decisions that were influenced despite being pressured, and assured the agency's staff maintained their professionalism.
"EPA has not made any decisions under any influence within the last five year. EPA continued to express their professional opinion, even in writing. We are in our current state today because those who had the authority changed the rules such that they can overrule EPA decisions", said Naeem.
Naeem informed that the authority to make rules and regulations on environmental issues and planting and uprooting of trees lies with the Environment Ministry. Therefore, rules and regulations were changed by the Environment Ministry over the last five years which hindered EPA's work, he added.
Some of EPA's authority and responsibilities were transferred to Tourism Ministry by the previous administration, noted Naeem. He further said several lagoons were dredged for resort development projects, which is the main cause of the issues being faced today. If more land is reclaimed for resort development, more palms and trees are needed to make the land green and lush. Such moves are not supported by the EPA, said Naeem.
"According to laws, even if EPA rejects a project, the Ministry can appeal the rejection. In the last five, however many projects were rejected by EPA, the same projects were later approved by the ministry", said Naeem.
Naeem further stated the work done over the last five years to ensure that the trees that are required to be planted to recompense uprooted trees were indeed planted has been unsatisfactory. No budget was allocated to EPA to monitor the plantation of new trees, Naeem revealed.
Naeem stated that to EPA requires additional authority and resources to improve the agency, and emphasized the importance of keeping EPA free from influence.
