DODOMA: IF the proposed Environmental Management (Amendment) Bill 2024 receives blessings from President Samia Suluhu Hassan, from now on, every ministry will be required to have a unit that deals specifically with environmental issues.
Members of Parliament (MPs) yesterday unanimously endorsed the Bill, setting a new tone as the country grapples with unprecedented climate changes adaptation measures.
Following several challenges that were incurred in the implementation of the Environmental Management Act 2004, the government decided to come with this legislation with a view to making better provisions for environmental management in the country.
The new bill is now pending a greenlight from President Samia prior to its implementation.
Presenting the bill for the second and third reading in the National Assembly yesterday, the Minister of State in the Vice-President’s Office (Union and Environment), Hamad Yussuf Masauni said the legislation is proposed to be amended generally in order to accommodate requirements within the ministries to have a unit that deals specifically with environmental issues.
“The objective of this amendment is to accommodate the differences in Organizational Structures in the ministries, said Mr Masauni. Among other issues, the 28-article bill is amended in order to remove the qualification of diploma for Environmental Management Officers.
Also, the proposed law is amended in order to include other emerging environmental assessments to be monitored, reviewed and approved by the environmental officer. The objective of these amendments is to have qualified officers for effective implementation of objectives of the Act.
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“The bill proposes prohibition of human activities that may affect conservation from being conducted within all categories of water sources instead of “ocean or natural lake, shorelines, riverbank, water dam or reservoir” in order to comply with the proposed amendment…the objective of this amendment is to recognise and protect all water sources under the Water Resources Management Act,’’ added Mr Masauni.
The law proposes amendments to recognise Technical Committees and ministers responsible for standards in the formulation and approval of environmental quality standards. The objective of this amendment is to comply with the standards, which is the specific legislation regulating standards.
Furthermore, it is proposed to be amended in order to accommodate changes of names of Tanzania Plant Health and Pesticides Authority and Tanzania Veterinary Laboratory Agency.
Also, by adding the Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority, Tanzania Bureau of Standards and the Government Chemist Laboratory Authority, in order to require them to inform the Council on their functions which have a great impact on the environment.
The objective of this amendment is to require the said institutions to inform the council of their functions in order to enable it take the appropriate measures to protect the environment.
“The law also proposes to widen the mandate of the minister in making regulations prescribing procedures for the management of climate change. The objective of this amendment is to ensure that procedures for combating climate change are well stipulated in the regulations,’’ noted Mr Masauni.
