JEDDAH, 23 July 2005 — Authorities yesterday approved changes in the environmental law that will make it mandatory for companies executing industrial and commercial projects to install surveillance equipment to monitor pollution. The move aims at checking pollution level and making project more environment friendly.
The new law also envisages installing surveillance equipment in different parts of the Kingdom to detect offenders.
The move will also support efforts made by different sectors and individuals to check environmental pollution through awareness campaigns and seminars.
The new law will oblige authorities to comply with rules and regulations for protecting environment while planning development and other projects. It will also bound individuals and companies undertaking projects that may have negative impact on environment to install surveillance equipment and provide the authorities with up-to-date results about the pollution level.
The law will make it mandatory for project managers to agree to the conditions of meeting environmental standards before any loan for the project could be approved.
The changes will make it binding on industries using technological equipment to avoid water, underground water and coastal water pollution.
It will also force such companies and entities to take measures to check soil and noise pollution.
Those violating the new law will be penalized. If the violation is repeated, the errant company may be closed down for a period that will not exceed 90 days.
