Stone Blasting: Lawmaker Raises Alarm Over Increasing Rate Of Collapsed Buildings, Health Hazard

The Member Representing Afikpo North West in the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Kingsley Ikoro yesterday expressed sadness over the number of collapsed buildings, cracked buildings, health and other environmental hazards witnessed in Ameta Agba in Ibii/Ozzizza autonomous community following stone Blasting by a construction company.

Rt. Hon Ikoro who expressed the concern at the floor of the State Assembly during it’s sitting noted that many have been hospitalized while others have lost their homes and properties and called for immediate action against further blasting less than a kilometer to the residential areas.

Hon Ikoro who is the Leader of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly described the action of the company as wicked and inhuman and wondered why a quarry company will be blasting stones less than just one kilometer to residential home against the mining regulation template of the Ebonyi State Government.

“The action of the company can best be described as wicked and man in humanity to man. You cannot have a quarry site where you do blasting less than a kilometer to where there are residential area. Quarry sites are supposed to be situated atleast 3 kilometers away from residential area.

Hon Ikoro also expressed the concern that apart from causing environmental and health hazards to the people of the area, the company also take the mineral resources gotten from the host community to build roads in other communities neglecting the host community.

“It’s so sad that the quarry company will destroy the houses of the residents, put their lives in danger, yet take the mineral resources gotten from the community elsewhere to do roads while that of the host community are death traps. That is simply wicked.

Hon Ikoro noted that apart from presenting the matter at the floor of the House of Assembly, he has also reported to the relevant author adding that the relevant authorities has visited the site to ascertain the level of damage and make it’s recommendations.

“The authorities have visited the site and I am waiting for the report of the authorities before we take further action. Though from the report so far gotten, the company promised to do the roads of the community but we are not going to dwell on promises, we want actions.

“There are houses that have collapsed, many others have cracked and I have insisted on abiding by the mining regulations. They should follow the template the government of Ebonyi State brought out for registration of quarry sites.

“It becomes more pathetic and unfortunate each time it rains. The people of the area do not make use of the rain water because it’s always black in color. Those who take the risk of using it ends up in the hospital. The water is already polluted. The mineral resources in the community has become more harm than good to the people.