Following the recent complaint by residents of Obasanjo Estate in Ikere Local Government Area of Ekiti State over the activities of a stone quarry company in the vicinity of the estate, the operators of the quarry have charged the community on cooperation.The residents had complained that the activities of the company constituted danger to their community, saying houses in the estate were affected by the rock-blasting taking place at the quarry.The community through their Landlords Association, also claimed that their houses had been damaged by flying stones and the impact of the rock blasting from the stone quarry site, saying their roofs had allegedly been perforated and walls cracked.They also alleged that the noise from the quarry was causing disquiet among the elderly people of the community, saying they could not sleep by the day.But the operator of the stone quarry outfit, Mr. Dare Omotoso, while reacting to the accusations of the people, said the activities of his company had not affected any residential building in the estate, adding that their operations posed no threat to the inhabitants of the estate.Omotosho, who is the Managing Director of the company, explained that his company had all the necessary approvals of both the Federal and Ekiti State governments, saying 'the relevant authorities approved the site and gave us the licenses and approval to operate at the site.'He explained that the estate was not as near as the members of the community claimed, adding 'we do not blast rocks every day, not even weekly and we do enough sensitisation of the people and consultation with the state Police Command and other security agencies as well as the nearby farmers and commuters.'Omotosho said he had made several efforts to meet the community members to educate them but met a brick wall, claiming that one of the residents of the community was a rock blaster who knew that the quarry posed no danger to the community.He called for the support of the members of the community and the general public for the survival of the venture, saying there were over 30 employees from the state on its payroll.He said the state House of Assembly Committee on Environment and Housing and the Federal Ministry of Mines had visited the site upon the receipt of complaints from the community and said they found no evidence of any damage to their houses.The quarry operator hinted that the company engaged in new technology in blasting the stones since it commenced operation last December, which he said made it impossible for any lump of stones to escape to any far or near region.He assured the people that the company would continue to be alive to its social responsibilities to the residents and farmers within the vicinity of the area of operation when it stabilisses.Meanwhile, members of the community have threatened to invade the site and picket the operations of the quarry if it failed to move out of the site.
Click here to read full news..
