After meeting with the minister and representatives of other institutions on Thursday, Vytautas Vyskupaitis, chairman of the Pagiriai community “Medeina,” told BNS that residents are facing difficult living conditions and considered striking again because of this.
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“But the community did not want to appear rude or radical, understanding that the new minister has just started work and may not know enough information about the situation,” V. Vyskupaitis said to BNS after the meeting on Thursday.
“During the meeting, we presented possible solutions and demands, discussed the situation, and heard statements from all supervising institutions that basically the factory should not have been in that location, which sounded very funny because we have been saying that for five years,” he added.
According to the community representative, residents suffer from constant noise, sharp odors, and the institutions responsible for environmental protection respond sluggishly, and the company, if fined, is only punished symbolically.
“Since the company was allowed in, laws were changed so that the company could operate there – but that does not mean the company has the right to operate to our detriment. Let it operate, but please respect our quality of life and health,” explained the community chairman.
According to V. Vyskupaitis, the community hopes the minister heard them because she herself said at the meeting that she “does not know much, has looked into the situation a little.”
“We are waiting for answers with specific dates and periods by when the demands will be fulfilled. Whether they will be fulfilled or not. And then, when we receive those answers or do not receive them, we will decide what to do next,” said V. Vyskupaitis.
“We really hope that improving communication with ‘Homanit Lietuva’ will not be proposed. That is not the point. This is not about communication; these are clear actions,” he added.
As stated in the letter sent to the minister, the community demands the restoration of water source protection standards valid until 2024 and the elimination of artificially created legal possibilities to reduce water source protection zones for industrial benefit, establishing a strict ban on reducing the Pagiriai water source or its protection zones.
In addition, it is demanded to oblige “Homanit Lietuva” to strictly not exceed noise limits, to require the company to install a real-time monitoring system that measures pollution and noise levels.
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It is also demanded that the prosecutor’s office and the Pagiriai community be recognized as rightful in disputing the decision regarding water source protection zones.
The community is waiting for a response with deadlines for implementing the demands by August 20 and does not rule out the possibility of striking or blocking access to the factory territory.
Minister: inspections at the factory will be conducted more frequently
Meanwhile, the minister says she understands the community and invites them to jointly seek solutions on how to address the problems arising for residents from the operation of the “Homanit” factory.
According to I. Andriulaitytė, instructions will be given to institutions subordinate to the ministry to conduct factory inspections more frequently and promptly.
“We can promise stricter control to the institutions under the Ministry of Environment, the Environmental Protection Department, and the Environmental Protection Agency, so that inspections are rigorously carried out and all violations are recorded at this high-risk and sensitive facility. We will also appeal to the Ministry of Health and the National Public Health Center to act accordingly,” the minister said in a statement.
According to her, the meeting with residents and institutions aimed to bring all parties to the table, but the leaders of “Homanit Lietuva” did not attend the meeting.
In turn, a representative of “Homanit Lietuva” told BNS that the company cannot comment on the situation because its director is currently on vacation.
The meeting was attended by heads of the Environmental Protection Department (AAD), Environmental Protection Agency (AAA), National Public Health Center, director of Vilnius district municipality administration, and other responsible persons.
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