THE OMBUDSWOMAN has blasted the government for not acting fast enough to test for pollution around Limassol’s Nemitsas foundry.
And the Green Party said yesterday the House and the public had been misled on the matter for 15 years.
The Green’s yesterday revealed a February 14 report by Ombudswoman Eliana Nicolaou, which said: “The way the relevant government services have co-operated, the inexcusable omissions and delays in taking and implementing decisions, the ambiguity of the legal framework on protecting the environment, quality of living and public health indicate that the total handling of the problem was faulty and inefficient.”
Handing out copies of Nicolaou’s report at a news conference yesterday, the Greens said that the only way for similar problems to be prevented was for an independent environment service to be set up.
The report added: “The pollution caused by the Nemitsas factory in the area is an issue that has been before the relevant government services and Limassol Municipality for about 15 years. but it continues to remain unsolved.”
Nicolaou said she had come to the conclusion that: “This specific case of pollution of the environment and its effect on the health of the public due to the foundry’s operation was not handled with the care and effectiveness that this type of problem requires.”
Zakaki and Omonoia residents have continuously complained about toxin pollutants from the Nemitsas foundry. They claim respiratory problems and learning difficulties in children have been caused by the foundry emissions.
Tests began this week to determine whether there is link between foundry emissions and health complaints among local residents. The tests got under way after months of delays in awarding the contract, even though only one company had tendered for the job.
The UK-based team is the same that last year forced the closure of Nicosia’s Ergates foundry, after tests showed lethal toxin levels well over World Health Organisation danger levels.
Health Minister Frixos Savvides has promised the same fate for the Nemitsas foundry if tests prove that the factory damages the health of local residents.
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