Residents voice concerns over soil stockpiling health risks

SOME Atholl Heights, Westville, residents have raised the alarm over uncontrolled soil stockpiling at a municipal site, claiming it posed serious health risks and degraded their neighbourhood.

They have demanded immediate action from local authorities.

Pat Reddy, a concerned resident and the chairman of the area's project steering committee, said it had been agreed four months ago, that the site be used by the municipality for 15 months as its administrative base for the Southern aqueduct upgrade.

He said as per the verbal agreement with residents, the site was not to be used for stockpiling sand. Residents claim the municipality had backtracked on the agreement and the stockpiled sand was impacting their daily lives, making the area unsightly and dusty.

“When we agreed to the site to be commissioned in our park, we were not told about the uncontrolled soil stockpiling. We were told it was for admin purposes and would only have containers on the site,” said Reddy.

“The relationship was smooth until the construction company started stockpiling soil, which was excavated from the nearby pipeline project. Despite my report to the manager who is responsible for the site, nothing has been done. I also reported the health hazard to the Environmental Health Department on August 26, but the issue remains unresolved,” said Reddy.

“They are not complying with the environmental legislation and are violating our human rights." 

He said the stockpiling of soil without proper dust suppression measures or covers had resulted in significant dust pollution in the area.

“The dust pollution is affecting not only the residents but also posing a serious health risk." 

Reddy and the residents feel disrespected by the lack of concern by the construction site. 

“The noise from trucks bringing in soil and the lack of control over the stockpiling process is causing undue disturbance to the residents. As ratepayers, we expect a certain level of service and protection from such nuisances,” Reddy said.

He claimed that the construction vehicles had also damaged some residents' driveways.

“I was disappointed to learn that the environmental health services were understaffed and unable to attend to this matter urgently. The response I received indicated that they would only be able to visit the site next week, which is unacceptable given the severity of the issue.

“We want the construction company to implement proper dust suppression measures and cover the soil stockpiles,” he said.

Munaf Mohamed Yunus, who has been living in the area with his family for the past 37 years, said his family was struggling with the dust pollution. 

“My mother, Sarah Bibi Emam, is 82-years-old and is bedridden. She struggles with the dust, which exacerbates her health issues. She has a 24 hour caregiver and her room faces the site. My son is also asthmatic and battles to breathe,” he said.

“This was supposed to be an office site only. This is a second batch of sand which has been stockpiled. The previous batch was clay which was on my driveway. A couple weeks ago, they removed the clay sand but it damaged my driveway and they are yet to fix it. We thought that was the end until we saw them bringing more sand, and now we have multiple mounds of sand. When there is heavy wind, our homes and cars are coated with dust. The dust clings to the curtains and our furniture,” he added.

He said they called on the municipality to intervene and remove the sand.

Yunus said residents had also complained to mero police. 

The municipality did not comment at the time of going to print.

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