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By Madu Obi
The Managing Director of Seaman Rice Mill, Nnobi, Idemili South local government area of Anambra State, Chief Emeka Agbanari has said the company is addressing the complaints of the residents concerning the emission of ash from the factory.
Reacting on the recent complain by a spokesman of Ndam village, Agbanari said his men are still conducting a test run of the factory, which began operation only in March this year.
According to some of the indigenes of the area, activities in the industry were endangering their livelihood due to toxic emissions from the factory.
However, Agbanari said full scale operations had not commenced, adding that the team of engineers who installed machines were still working to fix the observed errors.
He described as untrue the claim that the factory was built under the cover of a high wall such that the people did not notice what was springing up.
He also debunked the claim that residents of the area had abandoned their homes with their livestock, describing it as cheap blackmail.
"How can they claim that the factory was built under a high fence?, This is a factory that is about 15 metres high and sitting on about 15 plots of land. How can that be hidden?
“I am aware of the ash that is coming out from the rice mill which should normally go up into the air.
“The engineers who installed the machines are still working to stop the release of the ash which the people are complaining about, but I must add that there is nothing harmful or toxic about the ash.
“However, I must say that I am surprised that a few people decided to go to press when we have been talking and working towards correcting the problem.
" I am also a member of the community, but I do not want to talk about the economic benefits of the factory to the people in the area," he said.
Meanwhile, the Anambra Ministry of Environment has promised to investigate the complaints to ascertain the level of threat the emissions posed to the people and the environment.
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