Call to shut down polluting quarries, crushers in RAK

Ras Al Khaimah — While the Ministry of Environment and Water has started monitoring air quality, residents of Ras Al Khaimah have urged the bodies concerned to shut down the quarries and stone crushing plants which are heavily polluting the air.

The residents say the cement factories, which are known for their heavy pollutants, should also be put under stringent surveillance. 

Abu Saeed, resident of the Azan area, said the new monitoring system will hopefully put an end to their suffering. “Most of the crushing plants claim to have installed perfect filters, but keep polluting the air, posing a grave risk to people’s health.”

Abu Salem of the Rams area said most of the quarries and crushing plants in the emirate are not complying with the rules set by the ministry. “The ongoing inspection system is not enough. More stringent procedures and penalties need to be enforced to protect people’s health.” Ibrahim Seray of the Shaam area urged the authorities concerned to carry out inspections on a daily basis to make sure that the air quality around the crushing plants is up to the standards.

“It will be more effective to extend this surveillance to other industrial institutions, some of which are more polluting than the quarries and crushing plants, such as the cement factories which are known for their heavy pollutant emissions.”

Abu Rashid, also of the Shaam area, said all industrial plants, not only crushing plants, have to show absolute compliance with the rules to preserve the environment against any pollutants.

“Residents of the area here have repeatedly complained about the harmful emissions of the industrial units here which all need to stop their hazardous releases that kill us and our kids step by step,” he said.

Abu Abdullah of Rams area said the air monitoring system has no value unless deterrent penalties are enforced. “Some of these industrial units have managed to reduce their emissions but not to the required level.” 

Recently, the Ministry of Environment and Water had a meeting with managers of all quarries and crushing plants in the emirate to enlighten them about the new air quality monitoring system to curb harmful emissions.

The managers present were urged to extend the green area around the premises of the crushing plants, continuously splash water at the quarry site, cover crushing machines, transfer the rocks into the crushing plants, and reduce the use of vehicles at these factories by moving the products on belts instead. The RAK Environment Protection Department has also instructed all crushing plants to instal air quality monitoring stations on sites, which will be connected with the main monitoring centre.

The loading and unloading processes are also to be closely monitored as specially equipped and covered trucks have to be used to reduce dust and other emissions, and conveyor belts need to be used to move rocks and crushed stones.

ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com