Shafaq News- Najaf

Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council instructed courts topursue legal action against any entity responsible for environmental pollution,including government institutions, to strengthen enforcement of environmentalprotection laws.

Jamal Abdul Zaid Shalaka, director of Najaf'sEnvironment Directorate, told Shafaq News on Thursday that the directive, whichfollowed a June 23 request from the Ministry of Environment for stricterenforcement, requires competent courts to apply Article 32 of the Protectionand Improvement of Environment Law No. 27 of 2009 equally to public and privateentities by prosecuting those responsible for environmental violations. It alsoobliges violators to eliminate sources of pollution, restore damaged areas, andcompensate those affected in accordance with Iraqi law.

Earlier this month, a specialized environmental teamidentified 54 pollution hotspots and environmental violations affecting waterquality along the Euphrates River from the Iraq-Syria border to Haditha Lake. Environmental expert Samim Salam Abu Furat told Shafaq News that the four-daysurvey documented untreated sewage discharges, illegal sand quarries, poultrywaste and animal carcasses dumped into the river, unlicensed fish ponds,construction debris obstructing water flow, and encroachments along theriverbanks.

: The cost of filth: Iraq among the world’s most polluted nations