The Special Report

Fury over fumes

• It was an accident, says managing director

Residents alleged that a chemical had been released along with the waste from a Union Carbide factory that manufactures binder gums used in paint manufacturing. The toxicity of the waste material had flowed into a common drain resulting in the health hazrad, residents said. 

In the aftermath of the chemical discharge angry residents had gathered in front of the factory and demanded its immediate closure. The Pradeshiya Sabha ordered the temporary closure of the factory until a full investigation was conducted.

Residents complained of breathing problems, headache, nausea, cough, dizziness, rashes and other chest ailments after inhaling the fumes from the chemical discharge.

They said it was the usual practice of the factory to discharge the chemical waste between 11 p.m. and midnight daily. However, on that fateful day the chemical waste had been discharged earlier in the night.

The most affected residents were those living along the road opposite the factory known as 'Adi Heta para' (60 ft road). Residents said both adults and children suffered from serious respiratory diseases. 

Fifty-four-year-old Violet Fonseka one such resident relating the events of that day said, "we got a strong chemical odour that gave us a headache. I also found it difficult to breathe. I locked my house and ran to my daughter's house hoping there would be less fumes. But the smell was so strong that the children in the houses close to my daughters began vomiting while some fainted and had to be rushed to hospital".

The fumes were so strong that the chief incumbant of the Shri Dharmodaya Baudha Mandiraya, Ven. Akuresse Dhammapala thero who was delivering a sermon at Galawatte, had to stop it and return to the temple feeling dizzy and eyes tearing.

The following day wreaths and placards had been hung on the entrance gate as a warning message to the management. 

When we visited the area last Thursday, a strong gas-like smell was still prevalent especially in the vicinity of the factory and along 'Adi Heta' road. But for the residents, the odour was mild compared to what they had experienced.

"This is not the first time chemical discharge has been dumped into the drain. Each time this is done we suffer from headaches and breathing problems," M.D.Sumanawathie a resident said. Following Monday's incident, Sumanawathie had complained of a chest pain, difficulty in breathing and a burning sensation in the eyes. 

Many residents believe that the chemicals emitted through the factories' waste discharge has contaminated the drinking water leading to various health problems.

Some resident fear if they continue to live in this area it would have a disatrous effect on their health.

"Children who compalin of resipiratory problems are fine when they are not in this area. But when they come back home, they fall sick again," one mother complained.

Of the 42 factories in the Ekala Industrial Estate, only 13 have treatment plants, the Ekala Environmental Protection Society (EEPS) Chairman P.K. Somapala said. 

The many textile factories in the area also release the dyes through the common drain. Residents complained that the colour of the water changed from time to time,"In the mornings, the water in the well turns green, in the afternoon it turns purple and in the evening red. If a chemical is discharged, the water turns white," Mr. Somapala said.

He said since residents had to walk miles to get clean drinking water, they continued to drink the contaminated water in their wells paying no heed to the changing colours.

Sagara, a cycle workshop owner living in the neighbourhood complained that his 11 year-old daughter had to take treatment continuously for three months for breathing problems and severe headaches.

Five-year-old Ashen Eranga took ill six months ago. After being examined by the Neuro Surgeon Colvin Samarasinghe, it was revealed that Eranga had an infection in his brain caused by a chemical. "He fell unconscious one day and since then he has been falling ill regularly. The doctor says he should undergo surgery in one month's time, but where do we have the money,"Eranga's worried mother asked. Her elder son has also been complaining of aches and pains and numbness in his legs and arms.

Numerous complaints to local health authorities and the Pradeshiya Sabha were of little help residents said. 

A research conducted by Dean of Medical faculty, Kelaniya Prof. Carlo Fonseka on the request of a welfare group in the area had revealed that after about 20 years, the residents were likely to suffer from mental illness ,kidney failures and skin diseases, the EEPS Chairman said.

In 1995, the National Building Research Organisation had tested some samples of water and wastewater which revealed the presence of chemicals but no action had been taken, he said.

Mr. Somapala alleged that the wastewater contained a toxic chemical and for every quarter bottle of the chemical, 10,000 gallons of water needs to be diluted. "The factory has a treatment plant, but it is not made use of," he charged.

Angry residents told The Sunday Times if the government allowed the re-opening of the factory that would continue to practice poor wastewater disposal methods, they would be forced to block the drain. 

Meanwhile the Industrial Technology Institute (ITI) Senior Research Officer Sharmini Wickremaratne said they were drafting proposals on safe waste disposal methods to be given to Union Carbide on a request by the Central Environmental Authority (CEA). 

Meanwhile The Ja-Ela Police have appointed a team to investigate the matter after angry residents stormed the factory vicinity. Ja -Ela OIC Thilakasiri Perera said the team had visited the factory and collected a sample of water and soil which they would be handing over to the government analyst.

On Friday, Negombo Magistrate gave an order calling for a detailed report from the Central Environmental Authority to decide on the fate of the factory involved in the incident. 

It was an accident, says managing director

Explaining the sequence of events that led to the closure of the factory Mr. Gunasekera said, "It happened around 7.45 p.m. on Monday when a worker accidentally discharged ethyl acrylate, (a thickener) to the waste water treatment plant. 

"We had stopped using this chemical about three years back, but a small quantity was remaining in the drum. We didn't want to dispose the chemical without finding a suitable way of disposing it. The drum containing the chemical was placed in the same yard where other waste water drums were kept.

"Waste water is collected in drums both before and after treatment and is not discharged into drains. Often, when we have more workers, every once or twice a week, we treat the wastewater. It takes 7 to 8 hours and sometimes 10 to 12 hours to treat the waste. The treated wastewater is then filled into drums and given to cement block manufacturers. 

"On this particular day too, the waste water was being fed into the treatment plant. Accidentally someone had filled the ethyl acrylate-containing the drum with wastewater. Unaware of this, and having observed no smell, the worker had pumped it into the treatment plant. As soon as it was put to the treatment plant, he got a strong odour.

"He informed the supervisor and also sought the advice of the technical manager. Immediate steps were taken to minimise the harmfulness. However, by then, the chemical vapour had spread.

"Panicky people gathered in front of the factory and began to protest. They asked for water. Then the fire hydrants were open. This water flowed to the drain.

"The peoples' protest prompted the Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman to order the temporary closure of the factory. The police arrived at the scene half an hour later.

"There are a lot of factories around the area and there are substances that flow into this common drain. Our factory does not discharge any waste material to the drain. All waste is treated and supplied to cement block manufacturers. I don't think this incident should be compared with the Bhopal tragedy which was on a much larger scale.

"Since we have chemically contaminated water in the plant and some drums which have been sealed, we have sought the advice of the Central Environmental Authority (CEA). On the advice of the CEA, we will be meeting an official of the Industrial Technology Institute to discuss means of safe disposal. We shall decide on any further action following this meeting
Bhopal tragedy

One of the worst industrial accidents in history was the 1984 Bhopal tragedy in India which killed 2,000 and caused serious health problems including blindness to over 200,000 people. 

Thousands lost their eyesight in the city of Bhopal itself due to the leak of the toxic chemical, Methyl Isocyanate used in the manufacture of pesticides.

The accident took place due to inadequate checking procedures and controls at the factory level. 

Most of the victims of the Bhopal tragedy have still not received compensation. A spokesman for the affected people considered the compensation offered by the multinational American Company too little. 

A similar tragedy had occurred at the Union Carbide factory at West Virginia, USA . 

Environmentalists here say Third World populations are at a greater risk of being exposed to toxic chemicals than those in developed countries. They also believe that multinational companies and some factories are relaxed about safety procedures because governments, especially in the third world are not strict in enforcing environmental laws.
We will help the people

Executive Director of the Environmental Foundation Hemantha Withanage has said they would support affected residents if they sought legal redress.

Despite a representative of the Foundation being attacked during the pandemonium in the aftermath of the chemical disposal, Mr. Withanage has assured support if the Ekala Environmental Society formed by the residents in the area take legal steps.

"There are two issues here – the environmental issue and the human rights issue," he said. Mr. Withanage was awaiting the green light, especially from the Ekala Environmental Society to bring redress to the residents.

One of the Foundation's representative who had been at the scene when the people had stormed the factory suffered damages to his camera and lost a film role he said.
Another committee

Environmental Minister, Mahinda Wijesekara said a committee has been appointed by the Industrial Development Board (IDB) to look into the complaint of harmful chemical waste being discharged from the Union Carbide factory in Ekala.

He told The Sunday Times soon after the report is ready he would be consulting foreign experts on how to overcome the problem.

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