An additional two-week extension has been given to the management of the controversial rice mill at Cane Grove, Mahaica to install critical equipment to counter dust pollution problems there.
However, residents of Coconut Dam, an area aback the facility and which feels the brunt of the dust pollution, say the authorities appear to have disregarded their concerns.
Early last month, the management of the Fiazul Hack Rice Mill was granted a two-week extension to resolve the dust pollution problem at the milling facility. That deadline period expired more than two weeks ago and yesterday, Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr Inderjit Ramdass told Stabroek News that the entity was given additional time to install the equipment which was sourced from overseas.
He said officials of the EPA visited the milling facility some two weeks ago to monitor the operations at the mill and according to him, teams from the agency are expected to re-visit the facility soon to inspect progress made by the company to control the problem.
The management of the rice mill has been mum on the issue and several attempts by this newspaper to contact the company for a comment over the past several weeks proved futile.
On Sunday, residents of Coconut Dam, told Stabroek News that while the dryer at the facility is not in operation at the moment given that paddy is not being dried, “because rice planting now”, the problem persists.
According to Bahadur (only name given), “…dust still come out of there because of the loose parts at the top of the zinc they put at the top there”. Pointing to several noticeable black stains at the top of the milling facility, he said they were caused by the dust which escapes from the facility.
He said that residents were told that during the night, two zinc doors at the top of the mill are usually left open “so that they could blow out the dust from in there”. The dust would enter the homes of residents even when they are sealed.
Bahadur said his wife, who is asthmatic, had been suffering from the effects of the dust pollution for almost a decade and a doctor once advised that the family relocate.
Another resident related that during the months of February through April and between August and November, the problem is most severe and while small amounts of dust emanate from the facility currently, ”it [the problem] still there because many people could tell you no matter what dem do the dust still escaping”. He too noted that when the drier is in operation, dust emanating from the factory is evident.
He said the issue has created divisions in the community as the more wealthy residents are against the factory being closed while others have been harping on the management of the mill to take measures to solve the problem.
“The people up in front more rich and most planting rice but we at the back here facing the problem because the dust coming directly in we direction,” the man added. He said too the political parties have also “used” the problem to gain support, noting that the Alliance for Change (AFC) “one time been showing concern but now is we alone because them done get what dem want in Parliament”.
On March 30, the factory received a letter from the EPA and was given a one-month ultimatum in which to remedy all problems which were affecting residents living in the vicinity. However, some residents protested the move by the agency as they viewed the facility as their main source of income.
Late last month, Ramdass, told Stabroek News that the mill had been granted the extension by the agency as it was still carrying out structural works in order to curb the dust-related problems.
The issue had 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 AFC in May last year after complaining that the PPP/C had not done anything about their problems.
In July last year former president Bharrat 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 Donald 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 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.
