Riverton City Dump Burns
Last week the Riverton city dump smoke
threatened a chikungunya like epidemic in the corporate area. No
one can say with authority if there will be any long term life
threatening effects from this. The responses of some in the seat of power
and even some of the general population are an eye opener and a disgust to
say the least. But why should I be surprised and expect anything different.
I live in the Hallandale community Bordered by
Mannings Hill and Red Hills roads on the East and West, Border Avenue to the
north and a major gully to the south. We have suffered for years
from the noxious fumes from fires being lit in the gully. Apart from the
stench which permeates your home leaving an
undesirable odour and residue on curtains and laundry , we have no
idea of the type of toxic substances emanating from these fires.
Coupled with this is the apparent weakening of the gully floor and wall from
the constant fires, so great is the damage that a part of the retaining
wall of some homes have collapsed leaving the land and houses at risk.
More Smoke
On Friday March 13th at the peak of the smoke
invasion from the dump the gardener of a neighbour chose to burn and when
accosted was truculent saying the whole place was already filled with smoke.
There are fines for persons who break the law by
starting these fires but this does not appear to be a deterrent due to a lack
of enforcement.
Who Cares?
We have communicated the problem with various
authorities, the police, health, fire, the Councillor and Member of Parliament.
without any success in alleviating the situation.
Where is our Minister of the Environment ? He is
embarrassingly silent since his promises of the last fire. On March
17, I was not at all pleased with the response of our Prime Minister to
reporters questions on the dump fire. it reminds me of the fire
which consumed Rome while Portia, sorry I meant Nero, played
the fiddle.
