As a part of its mandate to systematically evaluate the effectiveness of federal environmental legislation, the Ministry of Environment and Water in cooperation and coordination with local authorities has shut down a crushing plant in Al Hayl, Fujairah for three months for violating UAE Cabinet Resolution No. (20) of 2008. The resolution regulates the operations of crushers and quarries and the transportation of their products.

The directive came after a team from the ministry’s External Audit division conducted a field visit to crushing plants operating in the Al Hayl area. The ministry’s regular inspections of crushing and quarry plants are part of its mandate to monitor their operations in order to promote environmental sustainability.

During the audit, Ghanim Al Shamsi, Acting Assistant Undersecretary of External Audit, Ministry of Environment and Water, said his team discovered several environmental violations committed by the plant.  He stressed that the ministry is determined to further strengthen the efficiency of the division’s auditing and inspection processes by organizing numerous day and night field visits to quarries and crushers to ensure t compliance with existing legislations.  He also maintained that violators cannot resume their operations even after the expiry of the closure order unless they amend their status and receive the ministry’s approval in accordance with the provisions of the law.

The Ministry of Environment and Water conducts numerous joint field visits in cooperation and coordination with local authorities to ensure that all crushing and quarry plants operating in the UAE comply with and are committed to the current laws and regulations.