Following complaints to the President that they were being affected by dust pollution, residents of Strathavon and Cane Grove, Mahaica met a ministerial team yesterday to discuss the issue and managed to come to a solution.
Visiting the West Strathavon Cricket Ground and the Cane Grove Neighbourhood Democratic Council yesterday were Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, Minister of Health Dr Bheri Ramsaran and Minister within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development Norman Whittaker.
A GINA press release indicated that the team was delegated by President Donald Ramotar after he received complaints from the residents about dust pollution experienced daily owing to the operations of a rice mill located in Cane Grove owned by Faizul Hack.
While the Cane Grove residents focused on the emissions from the mill, the Strathavon residents shared concerns about the disposal of paddy husk by the miller. Hack was accused of illegally disposing of and burning paddy waste on nearby land in proximity to persons’ homes, GINA said.
The residents indicated that the mill is viewed with much importance since it acts as a source of revenue for a number of persons from both villages and also serve farmers of both communities who utilize the facility to mill their paddy.
However, these persons maintained that the emissions pose serious health risks to them and their families, including several babies.
According to GINS, they suggested that more effective measures be put in place at the mill to control the emission levels. Strathavon residents pointed out that the miller has alternative land available at his disposal, further aback of Strathavon that can be used for disposal and burning of the paddy husks. They posited that because the access dam to the said location is not accessible during the rainy season, this may be one reason why the miller is not currently making use of that alternative site. It was proposed that the dam be made accessible year-long to allow the miller to use it.
The ministerial team later privately met Hack at the Cane Grove NDC during which he was allowed to answer some of the charges levied against him, GINA revealed.
Hack explained that emissions from the mill were reduced to a minimum following improvements made in September. He indicated that over $30 million were spent to enclose the two storage bins, the elevators and catwalk at the top of the mill which contribute to the dust emission. Hack explained that the current emissions stem from a recent fire in the silo of the mill that burst open the roof of the facility.
Meanwhile, GINA said, Chairman of the Cane Grove NDC Bhagwandin Ramsarran said the mill’s immediate neighbours are those who are mostly complaining about the emissions following the improvement made in September. With regard to the improvements, it was suggested that an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) test be facilitated to ensure that the emission levels are in accordance with international standards.
If this was found to be so, it was suggested by the ministers that residents living in proximity to the mill, some 20 feet away, may have to, for their own safety, be relocated as the Cane Grove regularization process gets underway.
According to GINA, Hack accepted full responsibility for dumping and burning paddy husk on the land in proximity to the Strathavon residents, but claimed that he is the owner of the property.
However, he stated that for the past eight months he did not use the land for disposal, but only did so following the fire to dispose, but not to burn. He promised that he would no longer use the land for dumping and burning, but would instead invest in building a road that will allow year-long access to the alternative location in the backlands of the Strathavon.
The meetings also allowed the team to address other salient concerns affecting the residents such as bad road conditions and careless disposal of residential garbage that causes clogged drains and trenches, the press release said.
They were promised that the solution to these issues will be dealt with by the NDC with assistance from the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development.
Concerns about electricity at West Strathavon scheme were also raised and residents were advised that personnel from the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) have already begun the preliminary work in that area.
The ministerial team is scheduled to make a follow-up visit to present a progress report to the residents in two weeks, GINA said.
