Stern warning issued to textile mills over crude waste disposal
Binilith Mahenge, Minister of State in President's Office (Environment)
The minister also called upon factories to stop using firewood and
logs as their sources of energy and instead embark on using coal, gas
and electricity.
Mahenge who is Makete legislator gave the warning here recently
after having inspected ‘A to Z’ Textile Mills situated at Kisongo area
and Sunflag Tanzania Ltd located in Themi Industrial Area.
The minister's inspection came barely a few weeks after more than
3,000 residents of Matevesi area in Arusha marched to the mosquito nets
manufacturers (A to Z Textile Mill) protesting the factory’s tendency of
discharging toxic wastes into residential areas, hence posing health
risks to the people and their livestock.
During the incident, Arusha District Commissioner, John Mongela
issued a seven-day ultimatum to the management of A to Z Textile Mill to
ensure that the polluted water from the factory does not flow into
residential areas.
In his an impromptu visit, Mahenge called on the factory to adhere to environmental standards.
He further called on other factories in Arusha and the country at
large to take the issue of public health as their first priority, “I
call on all manufacturers to observe environmental standards when
executing their duties.”
Executive Director of the National Environment Management Council
(NEMC), Bonaventura Baya commended A to Z Textile Mill for creating
plenty of job opportunities.
He said they are preparing to establish regulations that will
ensure the textile industry adheres to rules and regulations of
environmental cleanliness at all times.
A to Z Textile Mill official, Godwin Obed said the plant is in a
process of transforming from using firewood to coal in efforts to
conserve the environment.
For years the factory has been using firewood and logs from the forest located in Ngaramtoni area of Arumeru District.
He told the minister that the factory is waiting for a machine to
arrive from abroad with which the polluted water will be treated and its
flow controlled.
“We are making efforts… we will make sure that the machines arrive in time so that we can address the problem,” he said.
In his visit at the T-shirt making factory, Sunflag, the minister
called on the management to stop using firewood and logs in running
their day to day activities.
He urged the factory and other factories to embark on the use of coal as a source of energy than forest products.
Mahenge has given the factory three months to change its system and embark on the use of coal.
SOURCE:
THE GUARDIAN
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