If a new Bill to fight transboundary haze
here is passed, errant firms can be fined up to S$2 million (US$1.6 million),
nearly seven times what was originally suggested.
It has
also widened its net to target not only companies or entities that cause haze
in Singapore by having fires on their land, but also those engaged by the firms
to start fires.
Introduced
in Parliament yesterday, the Transboundary Haze Pollution Bill was toughened
after public feedback.
Those
who commented on the draft Bill earlier this year said that the criminal
penalties - previously a fine of up to S$300,000 (US$240,812)- were too low.
They also wanted the duration of the haze to be taken into account.
Other
changes to the draft Bill include requiring firms to prove that fires on their
land are beyond their control and knowledge; and having the authority to
prevent individuals from leaving Singapore if they have been served notice.
Singapore
has been periodically blanketed by unhealthy haze in past years, caused by
illegal clearing of land by burning in Indonesia to grow crops.
After
the country experienced its worst haze in history last year, the government
proposed the Bill as a way to deter errant firms both abroad and here more
strongly.
The new
fines would mean that the longer the haze affects Singapore, the higher the
penalty on the guilty parties.
They
can be fined up to S$100,000 (US$80,270) for each day of haze, up to a maximum
of S$2 million (US$1.6 million) for each unbroken stretch.
This is
as long as haze lingers here for 24 hours or more continuously, at a stipulated
air-quality level yet to be decided by the authorities.
If a
company ignores requests to prevent or control haze, it can be fined an
additional S$50,000 (US$40,135) for each day it failed to take action.
But
first, satellite images, meteorological data and maps must show that the fires
are on land owned or occupied by this company, and that the wind is blowing
smoke from them towards Singapore.
Those
affected by haze can also bring civil suits against the culprits.
The
Bill has raised some questions over how it would be enforced. If passed, it
could take effect by October or November.
Last
Friday, enironment and wter resources minister Vivian Balakrishnan said that the
amended Bill is to send "an unequivocal signal" to deter firms from
causing haze.
"I
want to emphasise the need for cooperation, and for sharing of information.
This is the way which I hope that we will be able to make progress. This is a
regional problem. This is not only a Singapore problem," he said.
So far
this year, smoke from fires in Sumatra, Indonesia, has been kept away from
Singapore by favourable winds.
David
Ee
Business & Investment Opportunities
Saigon Business Corporation Pte Ltd (SBC) is incorporated
in Singapore since 1994.
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