The managing director of Seaman Industries, owners of a rice milling factory, Seaman Mill based in Ndam village, Nnobi community, Idemili-South local government area of Anambra State, Chief Emeka Agbanari has allayed fears of any hazardous emission from the factory.
A group of residents of the village had complained that their health was at risk as a result of toxic emissions from the rice mill.
They also alleged that the proprietor of the rice mill deliberately constructed the factory under the cover of a high fence to ensure that relevant government authorities did not supervise to detect any risk the factory would pose to the livelihood of residents of the area.
But in his reaction yesterday, Chief Agbanari described the fears being entertained by the aggrieved residents as unwarranted.
He stated that the factory is still under construction and what they are doing currently is test-running of the factory, adding that full-scale operation had not started at the factory as the team of engineers installing the machines were still working to set up the factory.
He dismissed claims that the factory was constructed under the cover of a high wall to hide it away from the notice of the relevant government supervisory agencies saying that such claims were intended to blackmail him and his company.
He said, “How can they claim that the factory was built under a high fence? A factory that is about 15-metre high 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 instead of smoke which should normally go up into the air.
“The engineers who installed the machines are still working to stop the release of 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 added.
Meanwhile, the Anambra State Ministry of Environment has said that it would investigate the complaints of the residents to ascertain if there is any threat posed to livelihood by the factory.
