From David Onwuchekwa, Nnewi
Anambra State Commissioner for Environment, Dr Felix Odumegwu, has sent a technical committee to Ngo Ndam community, Nnobi in Idemili South Local Government Area of the State to investigate the source of toxic emissions in the area.
Residents of the community had appealed to Governor Charles Soludo to save them from industrial pollution that posed health hazards to both humans and other living things. But the owner of the factory, Chief Emeka Agbanari, in reaction said the issue had been settled with leaders of the affected community.
A spokesman of the affected residents, Mr John Enwedo disclosed that the environmental pollution was coming from a rice mill located near residential buildings. He said that the emission coming out from the rice mill set up last year which commenced production this year had not allowed the residents a breathing space.
“This factory was located here last year but started production this year. When they started operation, we noticed a huge dark smoke coming from the factory. Everywhere here is covered with smoke which makes our itch. The noise that comes from there doesn’t allow us to sleep either.
“My aged mother has been falling sick since they started the operation. She has heat rashes on her body.
“We have cried to our community leaders and they seem not to be doing anything about it. We don’t know what to do again. So, we are calling on the government, the Ministry of Environment to come in and help us, “he said.
According to Mr Enwedo, more than ten households were affected by the environmental pollution, noting that their roofs were coated with dark smoke which contaminated rainwater they should have accessed when it rained.
He disclosed that some residents were planning to relocate elsewhere and evacuate their domestic animals if nothing was done to save the situation. Their prayer is that the rice mill should be relocated elsewhere.
An agriculture consultant, Mr Emeka Okafor, speaking on the impact of the pollution, said the black smoke would cover the green leaves and would not allow photosynthesis to take place.
Mr Okafor explained that the consequences would make the economic trees and every other crop unproductive.
The owner of the rice mill, Chief Emeka Agbanari, however, said he was surprised the complaints were still coming when the issue had been resolved with the leadership of the community.
He explained that those who installed the rice mill machines were working round the clock to correct errors detected during the test-running.
“We are still test-running the machines and you know that in the process of test-run, there would always be errors of this nature. We are fixing the problem. We are working on it at present and the people who installed the machines are on the ground working.
As someone from this community; I won’t do anything to undermine the health of the people. The chairman of the community talked to me about it and we held a meeting concerning the impact the mill is having on the villagers. We have also agreed to bring back the people who installed the machines and they are already effecting the necessary corrections as we speak. The problem is that the tower carrying the smoke is not properly directed, but it will soon be corrected.”
He maintains that the rice mill does not produce dangerous materials, as the factory uses wood.