The proposed Water Restoration Fund will support community-led projects to improve water quality, such as the restoration of wetlands and the creation of new habitats. PA
The proposed Water Restoration Fund will support community-led projects to improve water quality, such as the restoration of wetlands and the creation of new habitats. PA
The proposed Water Restoration Fund will support community-led projects to improve water quality, such as the restoration of wetlands and the creation of new habitats. PA
The proposed Water Restoration Fund will support community-led projects to improve water quality, such as the restoration of wetlands and the creation of new habitats. PA

UK to impose unlimited fines on water companies for pollution


Marwa Hassan
  • English
  • Arabic

The UK government is set to announce new plans that will impose tougher fines on water companies to tackle pollution.

Environment secretary Therese Coffey is expected to unveil the measures next week.

The government aims to "make polluters pay" and establish a "water restoration fund" where fines levied on water companies will be placed.

Under the proposed plans, water companies could face unlimited fines and penalties, with the most serious cases being taken through criminal proceedings.

According to the latest figures released by the Environment Agency, there were 301,091 sewage spills in 2022, averaging 824 a day.

Although discharges fell by 19 per cent last year, this was attributed to dry weather and not the efforts of water companies, the agency said.

Part of the plan is to strengthen the Environment Agency's ability to impose sanctions on water companies without going through the courts, with a six-week consultation to be published.

The government is also said to support the lifting of the upper cap on civil penalties on water companies, enabling unlimited fines.

Discoloured water being released from the Thames Water Long Reach water treatment facility on the banks of the Thames estuary in Dartford, east of London. AFP
Discoloured water being released from the Thames Water Long Reach water treatment facility on the banks of the Thames estuary in Dartford, east of London. AFP

The new measures are expected to form part of plans to toughen enforcement against companies following pressure from campaigners to tackle pollution.

Opposition parties, including Labour and the Liberal Democrats, have criticised the government over the issue.

The Water Restoration Fund will direct money from higher fines and penalties, taken from water company profits rather than customers, back into rivers, lakes, and streams where it is needed.

The current penalties and fines imposed by Ofwat are returned to the Treasury, but under the new plans, the money will be redirected to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Campaigners have accused water companies of discharging sewage more often than they should, even during dry weather, and have called for water companies to invest in more infrastructure.

The new fund aims to support community-led projects, including the restoration of wetlands, the creation of new habitats, and adding natural bends to rivers to improve water quality.

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Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais

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Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent   

Two-step truce

The UN-brokered ceasefire deal for Hodeidah will be implemented in two stages, with the first to be completed before the New Year begins, according to the Arab Coalition supporting the Yemeni government.

By midnight on December 31, the Houthi rebels will have to withdraw from the ports of Hodeidah, Ras Issa and Al Saqef, coalition officials told The National. 

The second stage will be the complete withdrawal of all pro-government forces and rebels from Hodeidah city, to be completed by midnight on January 7.

The process is to be overseen by a Redeployment Co-ordination Committee (RCC) comprising UN monitors and representatives of the government and the rebels.

The agreement also calls the deployment of UN-supervised neutral forces in the city and the establishment of humanitarian corridors to ensure distribution of aid across the country.

What is 'Soft Power'?

Soft power was first mentioned in 1990 by former US Defence Secretary Joseph Nye. 
He believed that there were alternative ways of cultivating support from other countries, instead of achieving goals using military strength. 
Soft power is, at its root, the ability to convince other states to do what you want without force. 
This is traditionally achieved by proving that you share morals and values.

Milestones on the road to union

1970

October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar. 

December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.

1971

March 1:  Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.

July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.

July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.

August 6:  The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.

August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.

September 3: Qatar becomes independent.

November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.

November 29:  At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.

November 30: Despite  a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa. 

November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties

December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.

December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.

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Volunteers offer workers a lifeline

Community volunteers have swung into action delivering food packages and toiletries to the men.

When provisions are distributed, the men line up in long queues for packets of rice, flour, sugar, salt, pulses, milk, biscuits, shaving kits, soap and telecom cards.

Volunteers from St Mary’s Catholic Church said some workers came to the church to pray for their families and ask for assistance.

Boxes packed with essential food items were distributed to workers in the Dubai Investments Park and Ras Al Khaimah camps last week. Workers at the Sonapur camp asked for Dh1,600 towards their gas bill.

“Especially in this year of tolerance we consider ourselves privileged to be able to lend a helping hand to our needy brothers in the Actco camp," Father Lennie Connully, parish priest of St Mary’s.

Workers spoke of their helplessness, seeing children’s marriages cancelled because of lack of money going home. Others told of their misery of being unable to return home when a parent died.

“More than daily food, they are worried about not sending money home for their family,” said Kusum Dutta, a volunteer who works with the Indian consulate.

Company profile

Name: Tratok Portal

Founded: 2017

Based: UAE

Sector: Travel & tourism

Size: 36 employees

Funding: Privately funded

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Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

While you're here
The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

A little about CVRL

Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.

One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases. 

The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery. 

The biog

Favourite films: Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia

Favourite books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Good to be Great by Jim Collins

Favourite dish: Grilled fish

Inspiration: Sheikh Zayed's visionary leadership taught me to embrace new challenges.

Updated: April 01, 2023, 11:54 PM`