the Environment Conservation Levy Act introduced this month proposes to impose taxes on mobile phones, transmission towers, electrical bulbs excluding CFL bulbs and certain motor vehicles. The Govt. hopes to collect between Rs.500-600mn from this levy. The Environment Ministry has also assured that this money will not be misused. The Environment Minister is definitely doing a good job of work and his integrity has never been in doubt. Hence, there is no reason to suspect that monies accruing to the Environment Conservation levy account will be abused. All right thinking people should welcome this initiative of the Environment Ministry as it is for the good of all. The people would welcome cleaner air and garbage-free roads. However, listening to the Sirasa TV news on the night of 10/8, the Minister of Environment made a speech of a massive illicit sand mining scandal. He stated that sand valued at over Rs.600mn had been illicitly mined and removed. The news report referred to above also referred to the Rio Declaration which states that: "Polluters should bear the cost of pollution." It is presumed that