Essence of the case: Protection of the right of residents of Hnizdychiv village (Lviv region) to safe for life and health environment.
Essence of the problem: non-compliance with environmental law by the alcohol factory having negative impact on the state of the environment and violation of environmental rights of locals.
Basic facts: Hnizdychiv state alcohol factory is located in the village of Hnizdichiv (Zhydachiv district, Lviv region). It dumps its wastes into soil sedimentation reservoirs next to the river Striy. When it rains, the waste sewage gets into the river bed. Any flood poses a risk that the wastes can get into the river, which is a threat for the environment and health of the residents. Also, on the basis of available photos the residents assume that the waste flows get to the river-bed because of ditches made on the initiative of the factory administration down the slope and to the river.
Moreover, the reservoirs emit stench which is spread over the village, especially in hot weather. This is a violation of the right of local residents to healthy environment and may be a reason for numerous diseases in the village. In 2007, in the village numbering 4 860 residents there were 2222 cases of diseases of respiratory apparatus registered including both adults and children. Also, there is high statistics on diseases of blood, stomach, liver, and allergies.
Residents of Hnizdychiv addressed Environment-People-Law with the request to help solve the problem with protection of the violated environmental right to healthy environment.
Up to now the following violations of environmental legislation have been revealed:
- during an inspection the Chief state health officer in Zhydachiv district revealed violations of norms of sanitary legislation for which the director of the factory was fined and ordered to take measures to stop dumping waste
- State environmental inspection ordered the administration of the factory to take measures aimed to improve environmental situation in the village of Hnizdychiv
At present EPL actively collects information on compliance of the factory with environmental legislation.
