Mahalla drinking water unfit for human consumption, says report
From the Daily News Egypt…
Drinking water in some of the villages in Mahalla El-Kobra was found unfit for human consumption due to high levels of minerals and chloride, according to a report by the chemical and bacteriological labs at the Ministry of Health.
The findings are some of several released by the Ministry of Health, according to local reports, saying that drinking water does not meet minimum standards because of high percentages of calcium, magnesium, iron, chloride, salt and sulphur.
Daily News Egypt was unable to reach the Ministry of Health to confirm they released the report.
The local council discussed issues raised by members Mostafa Hamouda and Talaat Ashour regarding the quality of potable water in the villages of Al-Kamaliya, Kafr Feyala, Kafr Hegazy, Shobrababel and Saft Torab — where 200,000 residents are at risk of kidney failure.
Fear of escalated response in Damietta over Agrium plant
From the Daily News Egypt:
Members of the People’s Assembly (PA) and local leaders of Damietta have warned of a possible escalation in residents’ response to the continued presence of the Agrium nitrogen and ammonia plant near Ras El-Bar resort.
Although the PA had decided to remove the plant from Damietta, the plant site still remains, much to the ire of local residents who want the plant removed immediately.
“People will wait until the end of the month and if the plant isn’t moved they will take to the streets, but in a much bigger way than in the past,” leader of the local opposition to the plant Nasser El Emary told Daily News Egypt.
Independent MP Omran Megahed told Daily News Egypt, “Expect anything [if the plant remains] and any result will be the fault of the government. We are trying to calm people down and urge patience [but] I see a lot of people that are willing to risk their lives fight this. If you are killing us and our kids then our lives are forfeit and it no longer matters.”
Megahed feels that the government is postponing the relocation of the plant.
Additionally, Emary said that Agrium had hired a public relations firm to promote the plant to the residents.
Megahed said, “What is clear is that the government is beating about the bush on the PA’s decision. It seems the government will do what it wants. I submitted a questioning to the Prime Minister [Ahmad Nazif] in parliament about this and the lack of consideration they are showing the people of Damietta.”
He added that MPs of the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) met with people from Damietta and told them the plant will not be moved.