The European Court of Justice has
slapped Italy with another fine for failing to resolve waste
management problems in the Terra dei Fuochi (Land of Fires) in
the southern region of Campania, ordering the country to pay 20
million euros.
The court has also imposed a daily fine of 120,000 euros
that Italy must pay every day until the problems are adequately
solved.
In December, the court handed Italy a 40-million-euro fine
for failing to combat illegal waste dumping in the area around
Naples.
The rulings highlight the Italian government's struggle to
deal with an environmental disaster in parts of the region,
where criminal organisations have dumped toxic waste for
decades.
In 2014, firefighters were called to put out 2,531 blazes
in in the Land of Fires.
This was down from the number of episodes recorded in 2013
and in 2012, when firefighters intervened 3,984 times.
Efforts have been made to monitor and clamp down on the
environmental damage caused by the powerful Naples-based Camorra
mafia.
The local mob, whose activities have been detailed by
writer Roberto Saviano, has deeply infiltrated the rubbish
collection industry.
It has raked in huge profits even as its illegal dumps and
uncontrolled burning of waste and other toxic materials have
been blamed for unusually high levels of cancer and other
diseases linked to pollution.
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