Kathmandu, May 14

Environment Protection Bill registered by the government at the Federal Parliament secretariat stipulates special provisions on environment protection.

According to the bill, the government may declare any place with a natural heritage, rare wildlife, plants or places with biodiversity and places of historical and cultural significance as protected area by issuing a notice in the Nepal Gazette.

The government may issue an order to maintain any particular area as an open or a green space with the objective of protecting the environment.

The government takes into account many factors, such as environment pollution, cases of landslip, exploitation of natural resources or a natural disaster in any particular area before designating it a ‘protected area.’

The bill also empowers the government to restrict the movement of general public in and around a place where harmful or hazardous materials or waste have been stored or disposed, by declaring it a ‘polluted’ area.

“The government may participate in carbon trading as per international treaties and agreements with foreign governments or institutions, professional bodies and private sectors,” the bill states.

According to the bill, the government may also set standards to reduce or mitigate adverse impacts of pollution or hazardous waste created by vehicles, machines, equipment, industrial enterprises, hotels and restaurants.

“No person or group visiting the Himalayan region for mountaineering, trekking, sightseeing or for other purposes shall cause negative impact on the local environment by creating and disposing of waste contrary to the standards set by the government,” Section 15 of the bill reads.

In order to study, examine or analyse pollution, sound, heat and waste generated or likely to be generated by an industry, factory, machine, vehicle etc, the concerned person or organisation shall be required to collect samples from an object under study.

In case any person or organisation suffers any loss or damage due to creation or disposal of pollution, sound, heat or harmful waste, the victim may submit an application to the prescribed authority requesting an order of compensation for the damage caused to him/her or it.

While carrying out collection, storage, recycling, sale/distribution, disposal and transportation of any hazardous waste, the producer or operator shall ensure that such activities don’t cause adverse impact on public health and environment, it says.