Vusi Ndlovu

Vusi Ndlovu

Industries responsible for emissions that cause health problems to local residents can now be nailed.

Deputy environmental affairs and tourism minister Rejoice Mabudafhasi yesterday launched six air quality monitoring stations which will detect the amount of harmful emissions released into the atmosphere.

Speaking at the launch of the stations at Iketsetseng Secondary School in Sasolburg, Free State, the site of one of the stations, Mabudafhasi said the stations would identify companies who did not abide by the provisions of the Air Quality Control Act which aimed to reduce air pollution.

The deputy minister said the department would then decide on appropriate penalties for transgressors once it had set standards for minimum emission levels.

She said the Green Scorpions, the environmental policing unit, would deal with companies not complying with the law.