CONCERNS AS RESIDENTIAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS INVADE INDUSTRIAL ESTATES

"You've 14days to comply with safety recommendations", Oladepo tells Ife Iron & Steel Company 

Residents of Fashina community along Ife - Ibadan express road in Ile - Ife has been warned to stop encroaching onto lands meant for Industrial Development Estate with residential buildings and other domestic activities that is not within the purview of an industrial area.

Conducting inspection on the level of compliance the Ife Iron & Steel has gone with the industrial health and safety recommendations, the Commissioner, Hon. Sola Oladepo noted that there has been tremendous improvement on the company's Pollution Abatement Plant when compared to the company's effluent control system in the past. "...this development is good and I am happy to see that the effluent from steel production has drastically reduced. I am sure its effect on the vegetation of this area has also been reasonably contained". He also noted that the topography of the landmass where the company is located indicated that the plant's chimney should further be elevated, this among other observation he said should be fixed within the next fourteen days.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner observed that the Industrial Estate where the Ife Iron & Steel company is located has been grossly encroached with residential buildings, a development he indicated is not too good for both the health safety of residents and the industrial development of the State. "We will be working with the Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning to map out industrial areas in the State in order to stop the proliferation of residential buildings within an area girdled for industrial activities.

Oladepo who was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary of its Ministry, Dr. Temitope Oladele (mni) and top officers of the Department of Environmental Health noted that the on-site inspection is a follow-up on the Environmental Audit conducted last year by the Government of the State of Osun through Jawura Environmental Services Ltd. on the two major Steel production companies in the State.P