By Ifham Nizam
Plans are afoot to set up a special emergency unit attached to the Ministry of Environment to respond to public complaints.
Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has instructed the Secretary to the Ministry of Environment, Dr. Anil Jasinghe to take steps to set up a Special Internal Investigation Unit within the Ministry.
Amaraweera yesterday said that at a discussion with the Secretary and other Additional Secretaries, the Minister of Environment should set up the flying squad to investigate complaints received from the public by the Ministry.
He said that although there were several investigating officers at present, their activities were not being carried out in a satisfactory manner.
According to Minister Amaraweera, the Ministry receives a lot petitions from the public regarding the misconduct of a number of District Officers attached to the four main institutions affiliated to the Ministry of Environment. Complaints from the public often said that certain officials solicited bribes.
The institutions affiliated to the Ministry of Environment are the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau, the Central Environmental Authority, GSMB Technical Services Pvt. Ltd. and the Carbon Fund.
Minister Amaraweera said that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had ordered that raids be carried out with the assistance of the police, and the armed forces personnel to prevent environmental destruction.
Therefore, he had instructed the officials to establish this Special Investigation Unit expeditiously, Amaraweera said, asking the public to send in their complaints.
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