Hundreds of households in southern Tajikistan suffer from black and fetid smoke from lime kilns. Environmental experts state that the harm from these emissions is evident even outside the area.
Nine lime kilns [khumdons in Tajik – Tr.] producing quicklime 24/7 are located in the Kyzylkala jamoat of Khuroson district of Khatlon region, 80 kilometres south of Dushanbe.
Quicklime for construction works is sold to different cities and regions of the country.
The waste from this hazardous industry is dumped in the nearby hills. This, according to environmental experts, is harmful to the environment.
The experts also state that the black smoke produced by burning lime is very harmful. It increases the number of diseases, especially such as hypertension and respiratory diseases.
Despite this, local residents who have suffered from the harmful smoke and dirt from lime kilns for years, do not complain about them to the authorities. Indeed, thanks to this production, dozens of nearby villages’ residents can provide for their families.
Nizoramo, 50, a resident of Kyzylkala village of Khuroson district, lives in a house near the lime kilns. She says the smoke from these kilns constantly reaches her home and it is harmful to her health.
“I have lived here for more than ten years. Black smoke from the chimneys reaches my house. We always close doors and windows tightly to prevent smoke from entering the house. We are suffocating. I already have health issues with goitre. If we wash clothes and leave them to dry outside, they are all black in the morning. It is hard but we have no choice,” she said.
Nasriddin, 69, a resident of Khumdon village, says the lime kilns have been working here for about 50 years. The population is growing, the number of houses is increasing, and as the houses get closer to the kilns, they feel their harmful effects more and more.
“We go to bed at night and when we wake up in the morning, when cleaning your nose, you see that it is full of black soot. The smoke from burning rubber tires falls on our heads and faces, we breathe it in,” says Nasriddin.
He has diabetes and suffers from this smoke but cannot complain, since his son works and lives thanks to this production.
“I feel harm to my health but what can I do? We live here, my son works here. He lights the fire in these kilns and thus, earns his living. We do not have the opportunities to move from here,” he says.
Asroriddin Tabarov, head of the Environmental Protection Department of the Khuroson district, said these lime kilns belong to two companies that received lifetime licenses.
According to him, they hold meetings and engage in dialogue with workers of this industry, warn about the dangers, and ask them to stop burning lime. However, they cannot close the production, since they work officially.
“We visit them with representatives of law enforcement agencies, we explain everything, but they work officially. A few days ago, we fined lime kiln workers for illegally dumping waste. Last year, they were fined more than 40 thousand somoni (approximately $3,700). They are under control,” Tabarov said.
Although lime kilns pollute the air and harm the environment, there were no official complaints from residents, according to him.
Environmental expert Yokubali Kurbonov said that the fetid smoke is harmful to people and the environment, and that waste generated in the kilns is dumped into rivers.
“During rains and melting snow, the ash from kilns, which mainly consists of rubber and heavy fuel oil, ends up in the water and river. It harms and affects aquatic animals,” he noted.
The experts argue that although quicklime production brings income to most nearby households, they should still be relocated to remote places, where people do not live now, and then, there will be less harm.
In CABAR.asia interview, Kamol Kurbonov, an employee of the Environmental Protection Department of Khatlon region, said they were aware of the quicklime production problem, which has existed for many years.
“The smoke from these kilns destroys layers of the atmosphere and causes an increase in diseases. Nowadays, there are many diseases, every third person is sick, there are a lot of sick people. According to environmental legislation, lime kilns must be equipped with cyclones [air purifiers – Ed.] or high and modern chimneys, then, there will be less harm to the population,” he says.
According to Asroriyon Tabarov, the owners of two quicklime production companies reported that they bought two special devices from China, each of which costs about $50,000.
“It is unclear when they will be delivered, but these devices are expensive, so they have not been installed yet. These are special chimneys that will reduce air pollution and damage to people,” said Asroriyon Tabarov.