Parliament members are submitting information requests about the pollution of Nile waters in the city of Hawamdiya. Te requests come after Al-Masry Al-Youm published an investigative report two days ago that discovered high levels of dangerous toxins in the river near Hawamdiya and found that local factories are dumping waste into the Nile.
During a meeting yesterday health committee chairman Hamdy el-Sayyid suggested inviting the ministers of health, irrigation, and environment to attend a session that will be held immediately after the Eid vacation. El-Sayyid warned against the danger of continuing to use chlorine in purifying Nile water to make it potable. He said that chlorine is dangerous and added that discharging industrial waste in the Nile will render the river unusable.
The committee also decided yesterday to hold a hearing with Health Minister Hatem el-Gabaly concerning the closure of approximately 70 fever hospitals nationwide. El-Sayyid argued that the recent circumstances surrounding the H1N1 virus require hospitals to be expanded, not closed. He also accused some pilgrims of obtained fake statements showing that they have received flu vaccines.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
