LIMPOPO LEGISLATURE
REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ON AMENDMENTS TO NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT : AIR QUALITY BILL [B62D-2003]
INTRODUCTION
The National Environmental Management : Air Quality Bill[B62D-2003] was referred to the Legislature of the Limpopo Province by the NCOP. The Legislature in turn referred the Bill to the Portfolio Committee on Finance and Economic Development for consideration. The House may recall that this Bill was dealt with by the Second Legislature and a Final mandate was conferred on our NCOP Delegates to support the Bill . The Bill has since been amended by the National Assembly. The National Assembly’s amendments had to be supported by the NCOP thus the need for a new mandate to be conferred. The Committee having considered the Bill and its amendments begs to report as follows
2. PURPOSE OF THE BILL
The Bill seeks to reform the law regulating air quality in order to protect the environment by providing reasonable measures for the prevention of pollution and ecological degradation and for securing ecologically sustainable development while promoting justifiable economic and social development, to provide for national norms and spheres of government for specific air quality measures, and for matters incidental thereto.
3. CONSIDERATION OF THE BILL
The Committee met on 17 September 2004 to consider the amendments on the Bill. The NCOP Permanent Delegate, Hon, H Matlanyane and Dr. G Knill from the Department of Finance and Economic briefed the Committee on the principle and provisions of the Bill.
4 ENVIRONMENTAL AND FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THE BILL TO THE PROVINCE
The impact of the Bill would be to improve the Quality of air in the province, the quality of life and the prospects for sustainable development. The financial implications would be an estimated increase in expenditure of approximately R3 million per annum when implementation of the Bill takes effect. The Bill seeks to improve the quality of air, which will result in a reduction of some health care costs currently being borne as a result of air pollution.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee having considered and supported the amendments to the Bill, recommends and mandates our NCOP to vote in favor of the Bill as amended.
6 CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, Hon .Speaker, I hereby move that this report be adopted as the report of this Honorable House
I move accordingly
HON. W. N. TOOLEY
COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON: PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT