THE Ministry of Agriculture’s Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) has indicated that, along with the Rice Producers Association (RPA), it is working with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the rice mill at Cane Grove to reduce the dust pollution from the mill.

GRDB, in a statement yesterday, noted that it recently received complaints that the dust problem that was affecting the residents south and west of the rice mill at Cane Grove has started again. GRDB said its officials immediately visited the area and had a meeting with residents and the rice mill owner and some recommendations were made for the mill to reduce the dust emitting from the rice milling facility.

At the conclusion of that meeting, the rice miller committed to covering the dryer and putting up sprinklers on the paddy storage bins. GRDB said it was also agreed that a follow-up visit will be made along with officials of the EPA within one week.

At that meeting, a few of the residents were vocal for the rice miller to “pack-up” and go from that area, but most of them were asking for a solution as the mill is useful to the community for employment and receiving their paddy.

The follow-up visit was conducted on Wednesday 28th April with the General Manager and Officials of GRDB, the General Secretary of RPA, Officials of the EPA and the rice miller. In attendance was the Chairman of the NDC.

During that meeting with residents, GRDB said it was agreed that there was reduction in the dust but more needs to be done, as the dryer was not fully covered.

“There was visible evidence that a structure was being prepared to cover the dryer and an active sprinkler on the paddy storage bin and around the perimeter fence, but the rice miller asked for a few days as most of his workers took the ‘Easter weekend off’,” the GRDB stated.

It added that while most of the residents mentioned that the dust has reduced, more still needs to be done during the night as the dust was more then than in the daytime operation of the rice mill. The miller promised that he will complete the covering of the dryer by the following day and that he will reduce the night-time milling.

He also undertook to cover all the paddy storage bins, commencing in the month of May. It was also agreed that an official from GRDB with a representative from the mill will visit residents every morning to ascertain the extent of the situation. GRDB yesterday assured that this is currently being done and initial reports indicate that most residents welcomed the relief, but there is one group that continued to complain.

During all the visits, the GRDB and RPA officials and the miller visited the residents and listened to each complaint. The EPA officials made their own independent assessment and a report will be forwarded to the GRDB.

Meanwhile, the GRDB is working with the advice from the EPA and is awaiting their latest report to bring a conclusion to this matter.

GRDB said it will continue to act within the confines of the law and does not, at anytime, make statements in the press or otherwise support any political aspirant.