adminLovemore Zigara Midlands Correspondent
THE Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has extended the deadline for service stations which are yet to comply with environmental regulations of setting up oil separators and cut-off trenches to January 15 next year.
Last week, EMA shut down 10 garages in Gweru, Kwekwe and Zvishavane which had failed to comply with the order before lifting the suspensions on Friday.
EMA education and publicity officer, Timothy Nyoka, said failure to comply after the grace period will attract severe penalties and closure of the affected service stations.
“We gave orders to filling stations in Gweru, Kwekwe and Zvishavane because the service stations are operating without cut-off trenches and oil separators which assist in preventing the discharge of oil into the environment,” he said.
“We want the used oil to be retained in the separator so that unpolluted water is let out into the environment. However, we gave them a grace period of up to 15 January to comply with the order. Failure to adhere will result in the closure of the affected service stations and heavy penalties will be meted to those found on the wrong side of the law,” he said.
In April, the government announced a June 30 deadline for companies to comply with new regulations on water pollution.
However, by the time of the deadline, most companies had not complied and the government was forced to extend the deadline.
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