APPRAISAL OF THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK AGAINST ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION ARISING FROM QUARRY INDUSTRY IN EBONYI STATE

Abstract

This study was an appraisal of the legal framework against environmental degradation arising from quarryindustry in Ebonyi State. Environmental law and its policy was developed in response to the public perceptionthat human health and the environment were inadequately protected. The doctrinal research methodologywas adopted using data from primary sources such as the constitution, national legislations and as well as fromsecondary sources such as information from textbooks and internet. Among other things, the study found thatthere are numerous laws and legislations that suffers poor enforcement on the part of the people andgovernment agencies and embodies charged with the responsibilities of enforcing and maintaining extant laws,policies and programmes that are meant to protect the environment. It was recommended, inter alia, that thereshould be put in place an efficient environmental audit system that will engender compliance activities such asobtaining permits, installing controls, monitoring compliance, reporting violations and keeping relevantrecords. It was further recommended that among other measures, government should strengthen its regulatoryagencies and monitor them to carry out their assigned roles without compromise at all stages. It was theconclusion of this study that if these measures are carried out the issue of environmental degradation and rightsabuse would be a thing of the past.