Uganda: Environmental agency threatens to prosecute China Communications Construction for depriving locals of healthy environment
"Stone quarry firm ordered to follow rules"
National Environmental Management Authority (Nema) has given an ultimatum to a Chinese stone quarry company to comply with environmental rules or face criminal prosecution. China Communications Construction Company Ltd is accused of violating and depriving the residents of Bamutakudde village, in Mukono District of their right to a “clean” and “healthy” environment. The company operates a stone quarrying project in the area...
Sowedi Nyanzi, a resident of the area, yesterday told Daily Monitor that the workers at the quarry site lack pit latrines and that they have been defecating in the nearby bushes. This, he says, poses a health risk to the residents. Another resident claimed to have suffered a miscarriage due to the noise from heavy blasting of the stones.
The issuance of the environment improvement notice by Nema follows a court suit filed by the area residents against the Chinese company and Nema, for not doing enough to make sure that the stone quarry firm follows guidelines.