Legislation for Clean Air – Project Summary and Recommendations

Legislation for Clean Air – Project Summary and Recommendations

The civil movement “Gavigudet” with the support of the “Open Society Georgia Foundation” from June 2021 to January 2022 implemented the project “Legislation for Clean Air – Monitoring of the Enforcement.”

Within the framework of the project, we requested and studied several public information; We were constantly monitoring the industrial zone and posting the photos and videos on our Facebook page; We provided information to the society about air quality; about the violations, we called the hotline of the Department of Environmental Supervision – 153; We published a video instruction for using www.air.gov.ge and some quizzes on air pollution; Within the framework of the project, we organized a tour in the Rustavi industrial zone, we had a meeting with “green groups” and activists; We actively cooperated with the media; We had several meetings with the society and with their involvement prepared a lawsuit, which will be filed in court in the coming days. In addition, a report was prepared and presentation will be held on January 21, 2022. Detailed information about the event can be found on this link.

As for the current situation in terms of enforcement of air defense legislation, we discussed this issue in the report, however, in terms of the key challenges, we have created recommendations for various public agencies:

For the Parliament of Georgia:

To request and hear a report from the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia on the laws and amendments adopted in 2021 related to the implementation of environmental legislation related to the enterprises located in the city of Rustavi;

To request Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia to create the future vision and concrete plan for solving the challenges of law enforcement by the enterprises located in Rustavi; Periodically (at least 2 times a year) request a report on how the work is done.

for the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia and the Department of the Environmental Supervision

To cooperate actively with the enterprises located in the city of Rustavi and its surroundings, to make sure that the activities of the enterprises are in accordance with the law;

To create a plan according to which the activities of all enterprises located in Rustavi and its surroundings will be systematically inspected;

To respond immediately to citizens messages on the hotline, provide information about the response to the society and because of the public interest publish it;

To draw up reports on all possible violations that will take place in a particular enterprise as a result of the inspection.

for the Labour Conditions Inspecting Department

To check the working conditions of the enterprises located in the city of Rustavi and its surroundings, in particular: how well the safety of the employees is protected; How well the firefighting system is functioning; create recommendations for enterprises to protect the lives and health of the employees.