A woman who says she is being affected by dust and noise pollution from Bulkan Timber Works on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway wants the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to carry out tests to see whether the impacts she experiences are above what is permissible.
Farida Trotman’s lawyers, Luckhoo and Luckhoo wrote a letter on her behalf dated May 14, 2013 to the Execu-tive Director of the EPA Indarjit Ramdass asking that an investigation be done before the final decision of the Environmental Assess-ment Board with regards to whether the proposed BK International sand mine project will go ahead. This letter was also copied to the Chairman of the Environ-mental Assessment Board Vital Rajkumar.
Bulkan Timber Works and its related company Superior Shingles and Wood Products Inc have objected to the sand mine, saying that it will affect its business and its employees and that these businesses may have to close as a result of the sand mine and 200 workers would be placed on the breadline.
Writing on her own behalf, Trotman in a letter to Ramdass said that she resides next to Bulkan’s business on the Highway. “The noise and dust emanating from these operations has affected me terribly. I shall be grateful if you could please cause an investigation to be done to ensure that the noise and dust pollution are kept within the recommended level set by your agency,” she wrote.
Asked for a comment, Howard Bulkan of Bulkan Timber Works said that he has not had any complaints from Trotman. He said that there is no one living in the precincts of his operation. To the complaints about noise and dust, he said that the operation is well secured to prevent such disturbances.
He said that the only persons living some distance away are the coal burners whose business he helps by providing raw materials free of cost to them. “I am happy that I am able to contribute to these single women,” said Bulkan. He said that while there have been arguments whether these women are legally residing on the land or not, it is not his place to determine whether they are legal.
