NEMC contributes 9bn/- to govt coffers
THE National Environment Management Council (NEMC) has contributed 9bn/- to the government coffers in the past five years.
Speaking in Dodoma recently, NEMC Executive Director, Dr Samwel Gwamaka, said that in the past two years, NEMC has also succeeded in preparing documents that funds available to deal with the challenges of climate change.
“We have collaborated with various councils to write proposals that have helped to get funds for constructing infrastructure in areas facing the challenges of climate change,” said Dr Gwamaka.
He noted that during the Sixth Phase Government, NEMC has also succeeded in establishing nine zones with environmental experts who provide services in collaboration with stakeholders, district and city councils.
Dr Gwamaka said that the goal of establishing the environmental zones is to facilitate dealing with environmental challenges.
“During the Sixth Phase Governance, NEMC has successfully established nine zones, making a total of 13 zones across the country, which is Lake Victoria East Zone, Lake Victoria West Zone, Ilala Zone, Temeke Zone, Central Zone, Zone of Bagamoyo, Morogoro-Rufiji Zone, South Zone, South East Zone, North East Zone, South Highlands Zone, West Zone and North zone.
He added that, NEMC is in the final stages of establishing other four more zones to continue moving environmental services closer to the community.
Dr Gwamaka also noted that, in the management and procedure of Environmental studies; the Council succeeded in coordinating the selection of the Rufiji-Kibiti-Kilwa (RUMAKI) area to be included in the global network of Human and Living Reserves.
He said that from July 2021 to February 2022, NEMC managed to register 1,702 projects, out of which 967 projects are for Environment Impact Assessment and 735 projects are for Environmental Inspection.
“We have also managed to register about 1580 guiding and consultancy environmental experts as well as train 450 environmental inspectors to be able to inspect the environment and advise the big project investors and implementers to help them conserve the environment,” he said.
In a related development, Dr Gwamaka said that the Council has also continued to improve the electronic system where the registration of projects, the issuance of environmental certificates, and environmental activities forms are provided online.
“We continue to improve and increase services to the community, currently our services are available and easily accessed through the Internet, in the period from July 2021 to February 2022 we have managed to register a total of 1691 projects through the internet,” he said.
Dr Gwamaka also explained that the Council has a plan to establish environmental clubs in primary and secondary schools to continue providing environmental education to promote awareness and build capacity for stakeholders and citizens regarding environmental care.
“We will establish environmental clubs in schools and we will nurture them, in these clubs we will train students the importance of planting trees, Collection of waste materials at home as well as other things aimed at taking care of the environment,” he said.
