الجمعة، 12 أغسطس 2011

Environment Minister under fire over quarries licenses

Environment Minister under fire over quarries licenses





Environment Minister under fire over quarries licenses



By Dana Khraiche





BEIRUT: A senior source at the Environment Ministry denied allegations Monday that the minister issued over 60 illegal licenses for quarries and crushers without informing the National Council of Crushers and Quarries.



Environmental Consultant Mazen Abboud accused Environment Minister Mohammad Rahhal of violating the law in Lebanon which stipulates that the council is the only body allowed by law to issue such licenses. Yet, there are exceptional cases in which the minister can directly issue them.



“But exclusivity cannot be designated to 60 licenses in the span of four months,” Abboud told The Daily Star, adding that illegal licensing bypass tax and fee payments.



Abboud also noted that illegal licenses have grave environmental and financial consequences such as budget deficits and environmental damage.



Meanwhile, a source at the Environment Ministry denied such claims saying: “The minister has issued 47 exceptional licenses since the start of his term in 2009.”



The source told The Daily Star that Abboud could be mistaken since the minister had issued licenses for transporting stocks and never for crushers and quarries.



“Owners of crushers and quarries thought they could get away with illegal licenses due to the lack of any governmental authority,” the source said.



Abboud refused to name the owners of crushers and quarries who allegedly received licenses saying: “I don’t want to politicize the issue, I only want to raise awareness about such a serious violations.”











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05/04/2011



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