Robert Lalah, Staff Reporter
NORMAN GRINDLEY, Staff Photographer -
A woman holding a child covers her nostrils from the dust along the North Coast Highway in Runaway Bay. Residents in the area have been complaining about dust nuisance from the road project.
PRESIDENTS OF Queens Road in St. Ann say they have been suffering terribly from dust emanating from work taking place on the Northcoast Highway Project (NCHIP) despite repeated complaints to authorities, who have done nothing to alleviate the problem.
Coupled with the problem of dust, say residents, is the fact that blasting which takes place at the NCHIP mine and crusher is causing damage to several homes in the area.
"The dust is incredible, especially when they're crushing. I have two small grandchildren who live with me and they both suffer from asthma. It really is horrible," said a female resident of the area.
"About 6 or 7 blasts take place a day and sometimes when this happens it actually shakes the entire house. I have been fortunate enough not to have any significant damage done to my own home, but there at least four homes in the area that have experienced damage because of the blasts," added the resident.
She reported that affected persons have tried desperately to have their voices heard but constantly feel as if they are being ignored.
"We have written to the Ministries of Health and Environment so many times and have also met with key people who make big promises, then nothing happens and we continue to suffer," she said.
SPRINKLER SYSTEM NEEDED
When contacted by The Gleaner Grace Turner, spokesperson for the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), said residents should ask the contractors to ensure that water trucks are used to wet the area on a continuous basis. This she said, would help to alleviate the dust problem. She noted also that the contractors are equipped with a sprinkler system which is also used to minimise the dust pollution in the area.
Vando Palmer, Communication and Customer Services Manager at the National Works Agency (NWA) told The Gleaner, that his agency is aware of the complaints of the residents of Queens Road and have instructed the contractors of the highway to ensure that the area is wet on a regular basis.
"We will be monitoring activities in the area to ensure that the contractors comply. This is part of our Environment Management Programme which is employed in all our projects," he said.
