The management of the controversial Cane Grove rice mill at Mahaica on the East Coast of Demerara has been granted a two-week extension to resolve the dust pollution problem at the milling facility.
On March 30, the factory received a letter from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and was given a one-month ultimatum in which to remedy all problems which were affecting residents living in the vicinity.
Residents, however, protested the move by the agency as they viewed the facility as their main source of income.
Last week Executive Director of the EPA, Indarjit Ramdass, told Stabroek News that the Faizul Hack Rice Mill had been granted the extension recently by the agency as the company is still carrying out structural works in order to curb the dust-related problems.
The management of the company has been mum on the issue since the EPA visited the mill in March.
On the day the company was granted the ultimatum, a team of EPA inspectors visited the rice mill to inspect its operations and dozens of residents of Mahaica and other communities in Regions Four, Five and Six congregated at the rice mill while the inspectors carried out their inspection.
Dust from the mill has divided the Cane Grove/ Strathavon community for years despite efforts by former President Bharrat Jagdeo and more recently President Donald Ramotar to mediate on the dust pollution issue.
A resident of the community told this newspaper last week that the company had taken several steps to curb the problem which she noted has subsided over the past few weeks.
The factory had featured prominently in the press in recent years, following concerns by residents living in close proximity to the facility about the dust pollution.
The company received several warnings in the past from the EPA, which had been working with the company to resolve the problem.
The dust pollution issue has become politically charged as Cane Grove is seen as a PPP/C stronghold. However, residents who had complained about the pollution had enlisted the help of the Alliance For Change (AFC) in May last year after complaining that the PPP/C had not done anything about their problems.
In July last year, Jagdeo had appointed teams to assess the operation of the mill and the dust problem. It is unclear what resulted from this effort.
Then in January this year, a high-level delegation, including several government ministers, was dispatched by President Ramotar to assess the situation. According to a release from the Government Information Agency (GINA) on January 2, 2012, the team was delegated by the President after he received complaints from the residents about dust pollution.
While Cane Grove residents focused on the emissions from the mill during the ministerial visit, the Strathavon residents shared concerns about the disposal of paddy husks 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 had stated then 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 serves farmers of both communities who utilize the facility to mill their paddy.
However, they maintained that the emissions pose serious health risks to them and their families, including babies.
In 2008, when Stabroek News had visited the community to hear complaints from residents about the problem it was shown a letter dated June 28, 2007 from the EPA warning the mill to desist immediately from dumping and burning paddy chaff. However, this was still being done up to January this year.
