German-owned factory sparks outcry in Lithuanian village

By Aysu Bicer

LONDON (AA) - Residents of Pagiriai, a village just south of Vilnius in Lithuania, said pollution and constant noise from the German-owned wood panel factory Homanit Lietuva are forcing families to consider leaving their homes.

Lithuania’s Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene visited the area on Monday and admitted the decision to build the plant in a residential area had been a mistake, though she stressed the economic importance of the investment, according to public broadcaster LRT.

“The decision to establish a factory here was wrong, and then the snowball started rolling,” Ruginiene said.

Residents greeted her with protest signs, saying life has become unbearable since production began.

Locals say the air often carries a pungent smell of wood and varnish. They also point to several incidents at the plant, including equipment malfunctions that allegedly led to emissions being released into the environment.

Late last year, wastewater collection lines became clogged, and in June wood fiber spread into surrounding areas, residents said.

In a statement, Homanit Lietuva said it complies with the law and cooperates with supervisory authorities, the local community and the municipality.