Water Pollution Control In Ethiopia: A Comparative Study

Due to the increased demand and decreased supply of fresh water,increasing urbanization,industrialization,irrigation agriculture,population growth and general economic development,water pollution problems are affecting Ethiopia in each corner.This thesis has studied how water pollution is managed in Ethiopia in law and practice,through the application of cases from international and national legal instruments,with a comparative approach.The thesis addressed questions,like "how effective is the legal and organizational framework of water pollution control,how is water pollution managed in the case study and the role of public participation and access to information for water pollution control.So as to address those issues,the thesis has applied different arguments.In the course of the thesis,the main factors responsible for failing to control water pollution are identified.Among those factors low political commitment towards water pollution control,lack of enforcement of relevant environment laws to control the impact,poor cooperation and lack of capacity of environmental protection organs,less public participation and access to information,lack of awareness on the side of the affected communities.The fundamental right to have a clean and healthy environment,the right to improved living standards and the right to sustainable development are barley known by the general public which plays its own role for the less participation of the public in the environmental decision making process and water pollution control.Considering the less effectiveness of the legal framework for the water pollution control,the thesis has recommended that The government should integrate water pollution control laws/environmental protections in other sectorial laws,i.e.investment law,mining,energy,etc.,clearly define environmental standards,cooperate with the health sector laws and come up with an effective standard.The government must enact detail laws a means by which citizens have to participate in environmental decision making process,how the citizens access environmental information's,and how to access justice in case of the right of citizens' infringed and environmental damage/water pollution is sustained so that the potential polluters are accountable for their deeds...