THE government is finalising plans to transform the National Environment Management Council (NEMC) into a full-fledged authority in a bid to strengthen its legal mandate, improve operational efficiency, and enhance financial sustainability.

Deputy Minister in the Vice President’s Office (Union and Environment), Khamis Hamza Khamis, made the announcement in Parliament yesterday while responding to a question from Mpendae MP Toufiq Salim Turky (CCM).

Turky had queried the government's strategy to address budgetary constraints that hinder NEMC’s ability to tackle environmental pollution and related challenges effectively.

In response, Deputy Minister Khamis said the planned transformation would give NEMC greater legal powers to conduct environmental inspections, enforce compliance, and generate revenue to support its operations.

“The move will empower NEMC to carry out environmental audits on various projects to raise awareness and promote the payment of environmental fees and levies,” he explained.

He added that the plan also includes expanding NEMC’s workforce and establishing more zonal offices across the country to ensure better service delivery and easier access for stakeholders in different regions.

The deputy minister acknowledged that NEMC has been facing several operational challenges, with budgetary limitations being a major constraint.

To address these issues, the government has initiated a range of measures, including a review of the 2021 fee and levy regulations, the introduction of new revenue sources, and adjustments in environmental levies—particularly for large-scale projects with significant environmental impacts.

Additionally, Khamis noted that the government is now implementing the newly introduced 2024 fee and levy regulations, enhancing revenue collection systems, and updating a national database of projects required to pay environmental fees.

“These reforms are part of a broader effort to make NEMC financially self-sustaining and better equipped to oversee environmental governance across the country,” he said.