A total of 52 pieces of feedback were received in the public consultation on the proposed Transboundary Haze Pollution Bill.
Harsher penalties for companies and more effective overseas enforcement were among the feedback received from the public on addressing the haze problem.
The feedback, collected in a month-long public consultation on the proposed Transboundary Haze Pollution Bill, was released on Friday (June 27) by the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources (MEWR).
First mooted last year, the Bill allows the government to take legal action against organisations that cause or contribute to haze pollution in Singapore. Then, it was proposed that organisations guilty of the offence can be fined up to S$300,000. If they ignore requests to prevent, reduce or control haze, the fine may go up to S$450,000.
A total of 52 pieces of feedback were received in the public consultation, which was held from February to March this year.
One issue raised was that the proposed penalty sums were too low, and that repeated offences should be further penalised. Some also felt there would be difficulties in obtaining evidence from overseas organisations, which could affect the effectiveness of the Bill’s enforcement.
MEWR said the feedback gathered will be used to refine the Bill. The ministry is targeting to table the revised Bill in Parliament on July 7, with the Bill likely to come into effect in October.
