Section 24 — Environment Protection Enactment 2002

(1)

There shall be a Director of the Environment Protection Department who shall be appointed from amongst members of the State Public Service and whose functions and duties shall be to –

(a)

carry out or perform any action necessary to protect, conserve, rehabilitate, restore or maintain sound environmental quality;

(b)

incorporate environmental protection into the planning of any development activity or utilization of any natural resource which is likely to have an adverse effect on the environment;

(c)

regulate any development activity or utilization of natural resources which has or is likely to have adverse effect on the environment;

(d)

protect sensitive areas for the conservation of bio-diversity and the maintenance of environmental quality;

(e)

take any action necessary to protect the aesthetic, natural and scenic environmental quality;

(f)

promote cooperation and collaboration between federal, state and local authorities on the formulation and implementation of environmental protection policies and programmes;

(g)

promote environmental research, science and technology;

(h)

promote environmental awareness on the importance of environmental protection, conservation and quality;

(i)

conduct any survey, research or study on the state of the environment of the State or any part thereof necessary for the formulation and implementation of policies relating to environmental protection; and

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(j)

carry out any function or duty in accordance with or pursuant to any of the provisions under this Enactment.

(2)

There shall be such number of other officers as may be necessary or expedient for the due administration of this Enactment appointed by the State Public

Service Commission.

(3)

The Director may, in his absence, delegate the exercise of any of the powers of the Director under this Enactment to any officer of the Department.

(4)

The Minister may give any specific or general direction to the Director not inconsistent with this Enactment.

Obligation to carry out any function, etc. within reasonable time