KUWAIT CITY, March 1:  Associate Professor at Kuwait University (KU) Dr Jassem Al-Awadhi has called for the establishment of an environment protection fund to execute strategic plans in the environmental sector through granting soft loans and joint funding with private institutions, reports Al-Seyassah daily.
Suggesting that the fund should be independent to ensure quick achievements and interaction with international donor agencies, Al-Awadhi said the developing nations must activate their role in environment protection to reduce the level of pollution.  He asserted Kuwait should serve as a role model for other nations in the region.
Stressing the establishment of the fund is a major criterion for Kuwait to obtain international grants like the $100 billion proposed by American President Barack Obama during the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference, Al-Awadhi urged the government to join hands with the private sector to overcome the effects of the global recession. In a related development, Al-Watan Arabic daily has reported that the Environment Public Authority (EPA) will soon launch an intensive inspection campaign, in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Works (MPW) and Public Authority for Industry (PAI), to look into the alleged violations in Shuwaikh Industrial Area.
EPA Director Eng Mohammad Al-Enzi explained the authority will inspect establishments which purportedly throw oil and liquid waste material into the drainage system in the area, which might pollute Kuwait Bay.

Warning
Warning the authority will impose penalties on those proven to have violated environment safety regulations, Al-Enzi enumerated possible penalties like the closure of the establishments or cancellation of their licenses.
He asserted the authority will automatically issue closure orders or revoke licenses during the campaign as it had earlier distributed notices to the erring establishments. He said the campaign is part of EPA’s commitment to protect the health of citizens and residents in Kuwait, as well as the environment.
On the other hand, Al-Enzi revealed PAI intends to coordinate with EPA and General Customs Administration to control the entry of chemical substances, especially those that pose a grave threat to public health, into the country through the immediate implementation of the automation project.
Al-Enzi affirmed the authority, through the Industrial Environment Management Department, will strictly monitor the chemical substances used in industrial and government institutions to identify their sources and specify an appropriate technology to regulate the import of these substances.
He added the department will also lay down a mechanism to prevent accidents, in addition to contingency plans, policies and procedures required to ensure public safety.