Opposition wants action on “stink”

The Opposition Party Leader, Palusalue Faapo II is concerned that the Electric Power Corporation (EPC) has made no urgent move to solve the foul stench causing discomfort to the residents of Taelefaga, Fagaloa.

Earlier this month, the Samoa Observer published an article titled “Mad about hydro stink” in its Thursday 6 February edition. Palusalue claims he can understand the concerns by the village.

“The village is right; this has been going on for far too long and it is not something new.”

He was even more concerned about the health of the villagers and for the surrounding marine environment of the village. In that publication in the Samoa Observer, the village’s High Chief, Leuta Sialaufau Valoaga said he has had enough of the “worst” smell from one of the country’s hydropower stations for the past ten years. He was also tired of the many “lies” about the problem from people working at E.P.C. Pollution from E.P.C ‘s hydropower was causing the village’s lagoon to turn brown and river rocks red with sediment, he said.

Following this report, the Minister of Works, Transport and Infrastructure, Manualesagalala Enokati Posala, the E.P.C. General Manager, Tologata G L Tagaloatele Tile Lei’a and the A.C.E.O, Taule’ale’a Aumalaga Tiotio visited the village.

This visit was also reported in this newspaper on 8 February Weekend Observer. Following that meeting, Leuta told this newspaper that the village will “completely demolish” the hydropower plant if government doesn’t adhere to their June deadline to fix the “hydro stink.

“Our position is very simple; we want the government to fix this hydropower plant so that the foul smell is completely eliminated.” Leuta claims his village doesn’t want money to compensate for the discomfort they have endured for so long.

An amount of $3,000 was gifted to the village from government when the Minister and his delegation visited. One of the options given as a solution by E.P.C. to the village was the installation of a large pipe that would come straight from the hydro plant into the ocean.

But the village chief was against the idea suggesting his concern for the marine life. “Villages on this part of the island rely on seafood for living so we don’t want that plan,” he said.

Leuta suggested instead that a pipeline be installed that returns the waste causing the smell “to Afulilo or somewhere instead of it being dumped to the ocean.”

Also during that visit, E.P.C. told the village that they were looking for some funding for the solution to the problem and that bank representatives would be visiting to get information from the hydro plan pollution. Palusalue claims love for the village. “Any M.P. when such crisis arises affecting the health and environment of his constituency, should strongly argue for the safety of his people.”

The M.P. for the Vaa-o-Fonoti constituency the Fagaloa District is Tialavea Fea Tionisio Seigafolava. He was not sought for a comment regarding the matter. But Palusalue confirms that if this is what was happening in his constituency of Safata, he would be adamant in taking the lead to find an immediately solution to the problem.

“E.P.C and government should already have considered this matter since it is a long term problem.”

The damage to the environment and these people’s health is enough to raise concerns, he said. Palusalue strongly believes that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment should already be on to the problem for a solution. On Saturday, Leuta confirmed a visit from bank representatives to their village. He couldn’t confirm what the bank wanted but said these people took photos of the hydro electric power plant, the pollution results and recordings as E.P.C. had promised.