December 2012 | ToxicsWatch, Journal of Earth, Science, Economy and Justice

4:27 AM

Dr. Barry Castleman on dangers associated with asbestos

Written By Krishna on Thursday, December 27, 2012 | 4:27 AM

Dr. Barry Castleman, a well-known International Expert on Asbestos discusses with NewsClick on the dangers associated with asbestos. He says asbestos, a mineral fibre, is hazardous to the health of the people and to the environment. The exposure to air-borne asbestos dust causes asbestosis and lung cancer. In 2006, ILO and WHO have banned the usage of asbestos and over 50 countries have already banned it. In India, unfortunately there is no regulation on the asbestos industry.

Dr. Castleman visited Bihar and addressed the conference on environmental and occupational health co-organised by ToxicsWatch Alliance in Patna on December 24, 2012. He addressed the International Conference at Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi during December 6-8, 2012 where he expressed appreciation for Union Ministry of Labour for initiating efforts to nationally ban asbestos in compliance of the Supreme Court's order seeking incorporation of the June 2006 resolution of International Labor Organisation seeking elimination of asbestos. He interacted with Union Labour Secretary in this regard.

4:27 AM

Toxic Snowfall engulfs Delh's Okhla Residents, untested, unapproved Chinese incinerator technology takes its toll

Press Release

Toxic Snowfall engulfs Delh's Okhla Residents, untested, unapproved
Chinese incinerator technology takes its toll

High Court delay and ecological lawlessness unfolding in national
capital with impunity.

December 27, 2012, New Delhi: Residents of Okhla neighbourhoods were
delighted to
see what they thought was the season’s first snowfall descending on their
homes and frosting their cars. But delight turned to anger when they
realised that it was toxic ash from a large waste-to-energy plant
operated by the Jindal in their neighbourhood. Children were quickly
ordered indoors and windows and doors tightly shut.

A group of residents led by the resident’s welfare association (RWA) office
bearers then drove up to the plant and demanded immediate stoppage of the
plant, which has been functioning since March without proper clearances
from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Plant representatives R. K, Tomar and Som Vir Singh were compelled by the
RWAs of Pocket A and Pocket B, Sukhdev Vihar, to visit the colony and take
away samples of the thick grey-brown ash for analysis. They assured the
RWAs that this was the result of excess silt in the household refuse which
is being burned in the plant and that steps were being taken to reduce ash.
Vimal Monga, President of the RWA of Pocket A told the Jindal plant
managers that the air over the colony had become fouled by thick smoke ever
since it began operating with many residents now suffering from respiratory
and other ailments. The situation was particular bad in foggy conditions
with the smoke and ash from plant failing to disperse and settling on the
residential colonies of Sukhdev Vihar, New friends Colony, Maharani Bagh,
Haji Colony and Ghaffar Manzil.

Adjacent to the plant are major institutions such as the Institute of
Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), Central Road Research Institute
(CRRI), Apollo Hospital, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute and the Holy
Family Hospital, besides several schools such as the Dev Samaj Public
School.

The plant faces bitter opposition from residents, waste pickers and
environmental groups. There is a a Writ Petition (Civil) NO. 9901/2009 in the
Delhi High Court against the power plant by Delhi's Timarpur-Okhla Waste
Management Co Pvt Ltd (TOWMCL) of M/s Jindal Urban Infrastructure
Limited (JUIL), a company of M/s Jindal Saw Group Limited.

The 31 page report of the Union Environment & Forests Ministry
constituted Technical Experts Evaluation Committee of Central
Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on the Timarpur-Okhla Waste to Energy
Incinerator Plant has condemned the Timarpur-Okhla Waste to Energy
Incinerator Plant by JITF Urban Infrastructure Limited (Jindal
Ecopolis) has violated every rule in the rule book including
environmental clearance conditions. It revealed to the Experts
Committee in September 2011 that it is using untested and unapproved
Chinese incinerator technology in complete violation all laws and
environmental clearance of 2007 including its own project design
document and environment impact assessment report. Chinese technology
provider is from Hangzhou New Century Company Ltd of Hangzhou Boiler
Group. The critique of the report is attached.

In the report, Dr A B Akolkar, Director, CPCB emphasized that as per
Municipal Solid Waste (Management & Handling) Rules ᢩodegrdable
waste⠩s to be treated using biological method rather than deriving RDF
or by incineration as is being done by Jindal Ecopolis. This clearly
demonstrates that the Timarpur-Okhla Waste to Energy Incinerator Plant
violates the Municipal Solid Waste (Management & Handling) Rules
framed under Environment Protection Act, 1986.

In the Writ Petition (Civil) No. 9901 of 2009 in Delhi High Court,
legal officials like Mr A S Chandiok Additional Solicitor General and
Standing Counsel for the Delhi Government and for the Delhi Pollution
Control Committee, Najmi Waziri has been misleading and
misrepresenting facts about waste to energy plants in Andhra Pradesh
by saying that Refuse Derived Fuel incineration technology was
already in use at Hyderabad and Vijayawada. The fact is that there is
no plant in Hyderabad. The plant that became functional as per legal
officials now stands defunct is in Shadnagar, Mahboobnagar district of
Andhra Pradesh. On 18th July, 2011, Delhi High Court asked CPCB and
the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to conduct a joint
inquiry about India’s first waste-to-energy plant and file a report on
the allegations that it posed health risks to citizens. “A joint
report be submitted by the DPCC and the CPCB after an inquiry of the
site of the energy plant about the alleged risks posed to citizens,”
ordered a bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Sanjiv
Khanna, Delhi High Court. This has not been done so far. A bizarre
situation has emerged because the arguments for ᒥfuse Derived Fuel
incineration technology⠴hat was advanced by the law officers is no
more relevant because the plant is using an experimental Chinese
technology which was never ever mentioned at the time of submitting
the project proposal.

There have been incessant demonstrations and protest rallies against
this project. There is an ongoing campaign against it. The plant that
has been built despite protest is 150 m from the residential areas.
The area has a bird sanctuary, a university and three hospitals within
a radius of 10 kilometres. All will be adversely affected by toxic
fumes of the plant. The idea of waste to energy plants which is based
on a tried, tested and failed incineration technology in Okhla.

MCD, Delhi government and central government has shown unpardonable
callousness towards hazardous emissions from municipal incinerators
that cause serious environmental and health problems both to people
living near them and thousands of kilometres from the source. These
projects are destroying the livelihood of about 3.5 lakh waste
recycling workers and valuable resource material for compost that is
required to be treated by composting/anaerobic digestion/vermin
composting/other biological processing for stabilization as per
Municipal Solid Waste (Management & Handling) Rules.

Representatives of GTZ (German Technical Cooperation) led by Dr.
Juergen Porst, Senior Advisor have stressed the need for a Disaster
Management Plan in the very first meeting of the CPCB'sTechnical Expert
Committee, which is annexed to the CPCB'sreport. But this does not find
mention in the recommendations of the report. This finds reference in
the minutes of the meeting annexed with the report. It underlines the
possibility of disaster from the Timarpur-Okhla Waste to Energy
Incinerator Plant, which is situated in a residential area. It is
noteworthy that a hazardous plant in Bhopal'ds residential area that led
to world worst industrial disaster in 1984 also did not have any
disaster management plan.

The Review of Technical Evaluation by Anant Trivedi, Member, Technical
Evaluation Committee, CPCB reads: “The Okhla plant has a capacity of
2050 tpd of domestic waste input. However the plant design allows upto
10,000 tpd of input for incineration. Toxic bottom ash quantity
produced will be 20-30% of input. This amounts to at least 410 tpd
rising to a maximum of 3,000 tpd. Additionally there will be toxic
flyash of about 10% of the bottom ash.None of the landfill sites have
the capacity to take in so much toxic waste and mulba has been dumped
every where including all public spaces.” He asks, “so what is
proposed to safeguard public health from this toxic substance?

The report apprehended that the information that is submitted to the
experts committee of CPCB might be used in the on-going case in the
Delhi High Court. It makes a shocking revelation that although High
Court has been hearing the case since 2009, the project proponent did
not inform the court about gross deviations from the project design
plan envisaged in the EIA report. As per the minutes of the second
meeting of the technical experts committee, non-cooperative approach
of the senior officials of Timarpur-Okhla Waste to Energy Incinerator
Plant was condemned on August 11, 2011. Representatives of GTZ
underlined that there was lack of transparency with regard to
environmental and health impact on the neighborhood residents. It was
also noted that the fugitive emissions and the expected emission of
Dioxins and Furans has not been quantified. The characteristic of ash
and required standards was not mentioned. Prof. T R Sreekrishnan,
Department of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology stated that
disposal option for incineration instead of bio-methanation proposed
for green waste is in violation of what was mentioned in the EIA
report.

A site visit by social and environmental researchers and activists has
revealed the close proximity of the residential colonies to the
hazardous plant which is belching out a cocktail of toxic smoke in the
households. The testimonies from the residents who are suffering from
the adverse impact of industrial smoke in the houses.

For Details: Gopal Krishna, Convener, ToxicsWatch Alliance (TWA), Mb:
9818089660, Email: krishna1715@gmail.com, Web:
toxicswatch.blogspot.com
Vimal Monga, President, 9711408421 Sukhdev Vihar RWA
Asha Arora, Okhla Anti-incinerator Committee - 9810499277
Okhla Anti-incinerator Committee, http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/ghoslaokhla
Jindal plant representative. R.K Tomar 999978044
Jindal plant representati (environment and health) Som V

4:27 AM

Toxic Snowfall engulfs Delh's Okhla Residents, untested, unapproved Chinese incinerator technology takes its toll

4:27 AM

Alang, Chittagong and Gadani remain graveyards of migrant workers and ships

Nothing is likely to change for the migrant workers who dismantle ships on the South Asian beaches of Alang, Chittagong and Gadani in the new year.

Exact number of those die in the ship breaking industry in South Asia may never be known unless governments themselves compile it and publish it. The details from independent sources revealed that some 15 workers died in 2012 on or around end-of-life ships that were beached on Chittagong beach in Bangladesh for breaking. In the year 2012, more than two dozen workers died in the shipbreaking activities at India's Alang beach in Gujarat. These migrant casual workers live and work in a slave like condition.The rate of casualty in Pakistan's Gadani beach is equally grim.

Alang beach is located on the Gulf of Khambat, 50 kilometres southeast of Bhavnagar in Gujarat. Approximately 10 kms. long sea front on the western coast of the Gulf of Cambay adjoining to Alang-Sosiya village is developed as ship recycling yard. As of January 2013, 120 ship-breaking plots are functional. At present, there are some 200-250 end of life ships on the Alang beach. Its raining ships in Alang.

At Chittagong beach, the ship breaking takes place in the Fauzdarhat area along the 18 kilometres Sitakunda coastal strip, 20 kilometres north-west of Chittagong.

Gadani yard consists of 132 ship-breaking plots located across a 10 km long beachfront at Gadani, Pakistan, about 50 kilometres northwest of Karachi.

Along with India and Pakistan, Bangladesh remains a graveyards of the both ships and the migrant workers.

Every year, out of about 1,000 ocean-going ships sold for recycling, 70% end up on the beaches of South Asia, where they are cut by thousands of poorly trained and equipped workers using blow torches. Shipbreaking workers are exposed daily to toxic fumes, the risk of falling from the ship or being crushed by a falling plate.

In 2011, the government of Bangladesh closed the beaches of Chittagong for a few months following a series of deadly accidents. In July 2012, Supreme Court of India banned entry of end of life ships without prior decontamination in the country of export.

Underlining the current situation at Alang beach, ToxicsWatch Alliance wrote a piece High on hazard in the Financial Chronicle on Dec 21 2012. The article is reproduced below:

Alang poses big threat to environment and health of local communities, migrant workers Alang witnessed yet another death on October 29. Hailing from north India, the migrant worker from Uttar Pradesh in Bhavnagar’s Sterling Hospital succumbed to Gujarat’s Alang beach fire of October 6, in which several workers were burnt to death while dismantling a British end-of-life ship.

During 2001 to 2012, officially there have been 173 deaths without anyone being made accountable or liable. In 2011, 27 workers died in shipbreaking activities at Alang beach. Seven workers were burnt to death on October 6, officially, but sources tell us that the death toll is higher. These occupational deaths routinely happen. Nothing has been done to arrest these preventable deaths.

The chief minister of Gujarat says, “There are 52 islands along the coast of Gujarat. I want to make them tourist attractions of international standard.” But he has forgotten about the fate of Alang, which is the worst coastal beach in the world. The Gujarat government took the right step by shutting down the Sachana plots in November 2011, citing massive pollution as reason. In Sachana in Jamnagar district, some private agencies were carrying out shipbreaking work.

The closure order dated November 22, 2011, from the office of chief forest conservator read: “The shipbreaking is termed illegal because this breaking activity is going on in the water of Marine National Park….” The order said, “Because of shipbreaking, harmful objects like arsenic, mercury, asbestos, oil, etc, could harm marine life in the long time. This leads to complex problems for protecting and conserving the marine national park and marine sanctuary.” I submit that these observations are quite relevant for the shipbreaking operations in Alang as well, but the government has ignored the similarity between the two.

The UN special rapporteur’s report based on his visit to Alang beach reads: “…in India, ships are dismantled on beaches, a method commonly referred to as ‘beaching’. This method of ship dismantling fails to comply with generally-accepted norms and standards on environmental protection. Although very little work has been carried out to assess its environmental impact, the dismantling of ships on sandy beaches without any containment other than the hull of the ship itself appears to have caused high levels of contamination of soil, air, and marine and freshwater resources in many South Asian countries, and to have adversely affected the livelihood of local communities surrounding the shipbreaking facilities, which often rely on agriculture and fishing for their subsistence.”

The UN special rapporteur has recommended an independent study to be carried out to assess the actual and potential adverse effects caused by the discharge of hazardous substances and materials into the natural environment. “Such a study should also assess the steps that need to be taken for the gradual phasing out of ‘beaching’ in favour of more environmentally-friendly methods of shipbreaking.”

It has been almost three years, but nothing has been done to make Alang beach a tourist attraction of international standard. Some 6,000 end-of-life ships were permitted in the past 30 years ignoring naval intelligence reports underlining threat to Alang’s coastal environment.

The government has failed to ensure that the guilty officials and shipbreakers are made accountable. In the context of the recent deaths, if the government is sensitive, it would ensure that no deaths happen in future by reopening the old cases of occupational deaths on the Alang beach to set matters right. Those plots, which are more accident prone than mines, must be closed with immediate effect. The migrant workers deserve both medical and legal remedy besides just compensation.

The recent inspection by the Supreme Court-constituted interministerial committee (IMC) on shipbreaking, led by E K Bharat Bhushan, additional secretary, steel ministry, took note of the non-existent environmental and occupational health infrastructure, for the umpteenth time since 2004. It is sad that recommendations of IMC from 2004 to 2012 onwards have not been implemented in breaking yards.

After each accident and death of workers, an inquiry is ordered, but their report remains classified and no action has been taken. All migrant workers who became victims in the fire of October 6 in Plot No 82 on Alang beach belonged to UP. It is not clear whether IMC team inquired about the compensation given to these workers. Only a high-level probe can bring out the names of the others who are dead, but whose whereabouts have not been disclosed so far.

As per the Supreme Court order, district collector of Bhavnagar has to ensure that dismantling takes place as per its directions. Sources have revealed that in disregard to the court’s order so far, the district collector has chosen not to be associated with the dismantling process. Such non-compliance is unpardonable, but appears routine.

At present, the migrant workers in Alang who face discrimination for being Hindi-speaking and are not covered under Employees’ State Insurance Corporation. Workers’ living and working condition remains bad.

The illegal shipment of hazardous waste “from industrialised countries is being shipped to less developed countries under the listed intention of recycling and reclamation,” is a serious problem which has been noted even by Interpol. According to Green Customs Initiative, national and international crime syndicates earn $20-30 billion annually from dumping of hazardous waste, smuggling proscribed hazardous materials. Clearly, environmental crime and escaping of decontamination cost by global shipping companies in collaboration with international recycling industry is a significant and increasingly lucrative business, but the government has turned a blind eye to it. It appears to be a case of aiding and abetting colonialism by dumping hazardous waste at the behest of shipping companies of imperial powers.

The UN report states, “Health facilities in Alang-Sosiya do not possess sufficient human, technical and financial resources to provide any treatment other than first aid for minor injuries. The nearest hospital equipped to deal with life-threatening conditions is in Bhavnagar, more than 50 km away. The Red Cross hospital in Alang, which the special rapporteur visited, can count on only four medical doctors and nine beds to provide health care not only to some 30,000 workers in the yards, but also to the neighbouring villages of Alang (which have a population of about 18,000 people) and Sosiya (4,000 people).” The regime of blind profit on this ecologically fragile beach illustrates how all efforts by the Supreme Court and UN agencies have been undermined with impunity.

The environmental and occupational health crisis due to the hazardous industrial activities on the beach, and huge dangers from the shipbreaking industry to local communities and the environment remain unaddressed.

In a related development, ToxicsWatch Alliance (TWA) expressed concern over the reported use of carcinogenic asbestos onboard aircraft-carrier warship INS Vikramaditya which was published on December 26, 2012 by Vinay Kumar, The Hindu, 'Fighting the fibrous hazard'-

Even as the delivery of India’s second aircraft carrier, Admiral Gorshkov, has been pushed back towards the end of 2013 owing to repairs in the malfunctioning boiler section, activists and environmental advocacy groups have expressed concern over reported use of asbestos-based insulation in the warship.

Given the health hazards that asbestos poses and the fact that International Maritime Organisation (IMO), of which India is a member state since 1959, has banned installation of all types of asbestos-containing materials as of January 1, 2011, activists have expressed “shock and surprise” over India’s willingness to accept use of asbestos in the aircraft carrier’s insulation in the boiler section.

Responding to a query on repeated delays in delivery of Admiral Gorshkov, rechristened as INS Vikramaditya, Admiral Joshi said on Navy Day on December 4 the decision was taken by the contractors who were refitting the old warship.

“The insulation inside the boilers had become misplaced. Initially, it (the insulation) had been kept asbestos free, which was a contractual stipulation. We had nothing to do with that decision. It was an internal decision of the supplier,” the Navy Chief said, adding that the Navy became aware of the asbestos issue only after the snag developed during high speed trials in the Barents Sea.

Admiral Joshi said that the boiler would be a sealed unit and the environmental degradation factor externally would be negligible. Sources familiar with the materials used in the warships said that use of asbestos would be negligible in INS Vikramaditya and the sealed boiler unit, containing other insulation material as well, would never come in contact with the outside atmosphere. Sources said that all shipyards the world over were familiar with the IMO guidelines and adequate safety measures were being taken by the shipbuilders.

Calling for making all buildings asbestos free in the country, Gopal Krishna, convener of Toxics Watch Alliance (TWA), an Indian advocacy initiative, recently wrote a letter to President Pranab Mukherjee, pointing out asbestos roofing was being used in the schools, offices, courts, hospitals and automobiles.

“Though India has banned mining of asbestos, its use has not been completely stopped. Chrysotile, the most common form of asbestos, is a fibrous substance which is mixed with cement to create a fire-retardant mixture that is applied to corrugated sheets and pipes,” Mr. Krishna said. Inhalation of chrysotile dust can cause lethal lung diseases.

Mr. Krishna said that there were multiple alternatives available to asbestos and several industries and countries that have banned it have managed to do without it. Realising the lethal-effects of asbestos, the railways have also started replacing its asbestos roofing at several railway stations, he pointed out.

The WHO has classified asbestos as a “carcinogen” which causes lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis. “Instead of going about it in phases, India needs to completely ban mining, trade, manufacturing and use of all forms of asbestos-based products,” Mr. Krishna said.

Asbestos has been widely used in various types of naval ships, including warships, aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers, minesweepers, frigates and submarines. Ships repaired or built in the pre-1970 period were more likely to contain the toxic substance. The glass-like asbestos fibres were a major ingredient in many components of the ship, from pipe insulation to gaskets, in engine and boiler rooms, mess halls, navigation rooms and even in sleeping quarters.

Today, the U.S. Navy and civilian shipbuilders are eliminating its use and repair workers are making efforts to eliminate asbestos-containing materials found on current or older vessels.

Scientific studies over the past three decades have proved the dangers involved during asbestos exposure. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of cancer that attacks the lining of the lungs when unprotected workers inhale the asbestos fibres; they pass through the lungs and get embedded in the pleural mesothelium, a wall of tissue surrounding the lungs.

4:26 AM

Celebration of struggle starts in Kudankulam this New Year

Celebration of struggle starts in Kudankulam this New Year

Press Release: 30^th December 2012

Thousands of people, brought together by the spirit of resistance, democracy and freedom gathered on the beaches of Southern Tamil Nadu- in the coastal villages of Tirunelveli. Idinthakarai village, which has been the nucleus of the Kudankulam anti-nuclear power plant struggle, welcomed hundreds of people who have come to celebrate New Year with the local communities spearheading the People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE).

Groups from West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Odisha, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Goa, Pondicherry, Kerala and other regions of Tamil Nadu have assembled to salute the valiant struggle of the local people against the Kudankulam nuclear project. The local people represented the coastal villages of Idinthakarai, Kudankulam, Vairavikinaru, Kuthankuzhi, Koottappuli and Perumanal.

The program was inaugurated by the drummers of Janwadi Sanskrutik Andolan, Odisha which got the children and youth of the local villages along with the visiting groups tapping to their beats. Fr. F. Jayakumar, parish priest of the Idinthakarai Lourde Matha Church extended a warm welcome to the visiting people. Dr. S.P. Udayakumar, an active member of the PMANE struggle committee thanked all the people who travelled long distances to come to Idinthakarai, to spend the New Year eve with the struggling people.

“The second phase of our struggle began on the 16^th of August 2011. More than 500 days since, we have sustained this struggle against the worst odds, facing extreme repression unleashed by the undemocratic and insensitive Indian state. We wish to remind Sonia Gandhi, Jayalalitha, Dr. Manmohan Singh, Karunanidhi and other such political leaders that this struggle will continue till our last breath. The last child of Kudankulam area also will resist this destruction of our land, livelihood and natural resources”, said Dr. S.P. Udayakumar. The inaugural session also witnessed release of a painting, made by Madurai based artists, depicting the mowing down of the Kudankulam plant by the struggling people led by children and women.

Testimonials by different movement groups, fighting different destructive developmental projects in different parts of the country, is planned in the next two days of the celebration gathering. Along with this, songs, dances, theatre performances, painting, sportive events, etc. have been planned to make the two day celebration of the ‘New Year 2013 @ Kudankulam: Celebrating Resistance, Asserting Freedom’, a memorable experience for both visiting and the local people.

People from various walks of life including Dr. Binayak Sen, Adv. Prashant Bhushan, Admiral (Rtd) Ramdas, Achin Vinaik, Adv. Colin Gonsalves, Praful Bidwai, Gabriela Dietrich, Ashim Roy, Lalita Ramdas, Anil Choudhary, Ajitha George, Dr. Meher Engineer, T. Peter, CR Neelakandan, Sr. Celia, Vilayodi Venugopal, Laha Gopalan, and others are scheduled to address the national and local media from Lourde Matha Church premises at Idinthakarai at 3 pm on the 31^st December 2012. They will be joined by local movement representatives including Dr. S P Udayakumar, Malar Manickam, Pushparayan and others.

Today, the visiting dignitaries and groups visited the coastal villages and interacted with local villagers. Villagers cited the experiences in the struggle, from the early days in late 1980s to the latest police repression and martyrdom of local people – while in the struggle. The visiting groups were also shown the plant site and its proximity to the villages. It was clear that the plant existed in clear violation of internationally set practices of setting safe nuclear reactors, away from areas of human habitation – along with AERB norms.

Background to the event: All through 2012, Kudankulam – the now famous epicentre of anti-nuclear struggle in Tamil Nadu, India – was in the news for the local people’s valiant fight against the nuclear power plant. The place became renowned for the militancy of the local fishing communities, the clashes they had with police and the kind of state repression the people had to bear, despite being a democratic and peaceful struggle. It was also in the news for the loss of ecology and livelihood that will affect the local people, if the plant was commissioned. The Indian state has rubbished their struggle and with support from the state run atomic department scientists, setting aside the concerns of the local communities as ‘unscientific apprehensions’ and ‘baseless fears’. However, to the dismay of many, the local people in thousands, continue to believe that their ongoing struggle shall succeed and that the nuclear plant will not be commissioned in their neighbourhood, which will destroy their lives, livelihood and the marine ecology they depend upon.

Press Conference on 31st December will be held at Lourde Matha Church Premises, Idinthakarai at 3 pm.

5:15 AM

Written By Krishna on Monday, December 24, 2012 | 5:15 AM

PRESS RELEASE

Buying Asbestos is buying Cancer: Chairman, Bihar Legislative Council

Asbestos companies indulging in corporate crimes: Dr Barry Castleman

Patna/ December 24, 2012: Inaugurating the Conference on Environmental and Occupational Health, Shri Awadesh Narain Singh, Chairman, Bihar Legislative Council expressed grave concern about the lack of environmental and occupational infrastructure in the face of environmental exposures that present and future generations face. He favoured phasing of hazardous factories in public interest if they cause incurable but preventable diseases. He admitted the dangers of asbestos exposures. He said, “buying asbestos is akin to buying cancer. I will get asbestos removed from my residence.”

He said that struggle against asbestos factories in Vaishali and Bhojpur is a learning experience. He announced that he would convene an environmental conference in the auditorium of the Bihar Legislative Council after January 25, 2012. He added, “the ache of asbestos hazards is worse than the ache of unemployment.”

The conference adopted Patna Declaration seeking environmental, occupational health infrastructure and Prohibition on all forms of asbestos based products.

Former consultant of World Health Organisation (WHO) and World Bank, Dr Barry Castleman disclosed why asbestos-related lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis resulting from occupational exposures “can only be prevented by adopting alternatives of asbestos. It is estimated that several thousands of deaths can be attributed annually to exposure to asbestos in the living environment.” Dr Castleman is a fellow Collegium Ramazzini, USA and author, Medical & Legal Aspects of Asbestos. He said, “Asbestos companies indulging in corporate crimes”.

In his observation, Prof. Qamar Rahman, Visiting Professor, Rostock University Germany, formerly with Institute of Toxicological Research Centre, Lucknow stated that it is impossible to use asbestos based products safely. Human biology is the same everywhere. If it is carcinogenic for over 50 countries, how Indians be deemed immune from it.

Justice (Retd) Rekha Kumari, Patna High Court contended that companies which willfully expose human beings to cancer causing fibers of asbestos must be made criminally liable because right to health is part of right to life.

Prof Ishwari Prasad, former Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) argued against the externalization of health costs due to hazardous industries like asbestos industry. We cannot wait for studies and counting of dead bodies for government to act. The global evidence is incontrovertible.

Dr Satyajit Singh, Senior Urologist, Dr. Ruban Group of Hospitals & Vice- President, Indian Doctors for Peace and Development pledged support from ban asbestos movement. He had physically visited anti-asbestos struggles.

Prof. N K Chaudhary, Department of Economics, Patna University said that there is sufficient ground to inspire action and to stop hazardous factories in Vaishali. If it is not stopped it reveals the compjlicity of the head of the State.

Governments appear to be under the influence of vested interests else there is no reason why lung related diseases should not be prevented by prohibiting asbestos industry, Dr P N P Pal, ex-President Indian Medical Association, Bihar Chapter.

Dr Jitendra Kumar Singh, Director, Mahavir Cancer Sansthan and Research Center expressed concerned about the unattended health impacts from environmental exposures.

Trade unions of the left parties have consistently joined hands with the villagers in their struggle against hazardous asbestos factories. Participants include trade union leaders like Chakradhar Prasad Singh, AITUC, Shri Sarovodaya Sharma, CITU, Shri RN Thakur, AICCTU, Shri Arun Kumar Singh, President, All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC), Bihar, Shri Nand Kishor Singh, All India Federation of Trade Unions (New),Shri Arun Kumar, President, The Times of India Newspaper Employees Union, Patna & Member, Press Council of India and Shri Irfan Ahmed, President, Bihar State Vendors Hawkers Federation.

The leaders expressed support for villagers’ movement against asbestos factories and they termed such toxic factories as anti-people and anti-public health which must be banned as per the recommendations of the WHO.

Prof. D M Diwakar, Director, AN Sinha Institute of Social Studies, Patna argued for preventive approach to deal with the impending crisis due to environmental and occupational diseases. Consent of villagers for all the industrial activities must be considered mandatory. Alternatives to hazardous substances should be promoted because public health concerns are non-negotiable.

The conference urged central government to take action on its announcement that “Government of India is considering the ban on use of chrysotile asbestos in India to protect the workers and the general population against primary and secondary exposure to Chrysotile form of Asbestos" at page no. 28 of its concept paper at the two-day 5th India-EU Joint Seminar on “Occupational Safety and Health” during 19-20 September, 2011.

In January 2012, Union Ministry of Labour set up a Advisory Committee to implement Supreme Court order issued 15 years ago since ILO has also made certain specific directions vide its Resolution of 2006 introducing a ban on all mining, manufacture, recycling and use of all forms of asbestos.

The conference was critical of the central government for announcing that “Alternatives to asbestos may be used to the extent possible and use of asbestos may be phased out" in the Vision Statement on Environment and Health of Union Ministry of Environment & Forests but it continues to grant to grant environmental clearance to hazardous asbestos factories. It was also critical of State Government which is turning a blind eye to the public health concerns being raised in Vaishali and Bhojpur in Bihar against the asbestos factories. Instead, fake and fabricated cases are being lodged against the villagers who have displayed scientific temper which the State Government has failed to show so far.

The conference called on the central government to withdraw fiscal incentives from the asbestos industry to discourage use of asbestos products instead of promoting it. But State Government should act at the earliest to save the lives of its citizens without waiting for the Central government to act.

More than 55 countries have banned asbestos to protect the life of present and future generation of Australian citizens. Government of India is taking steps in this direction but in installments. Some ministries have been given conflicting signals. Government of India and State Government should coordinate and pay heed to the wisdom available in Union Ministry of Labour and announce immediate ban on the deadly asbestos fibers.

Case studies were presented from Rajasthan by Rana Sengupta, by Amitabh Patra of Odisha, by Pralhad Malvadkar of Maharasthra, by Ragunath Manwar of Gujarat and Tarkeshar Giri and Lalit Ghosh of Muzaffarpur and Vaishali, Bihar.

The Conference on Environmental and Occupational Health was co-organized by ToxicsWatch Alliance (TWA), A N Sinha Institute of Social Studies, Patna, Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, and PEACE, New Delhi.

For Details: Gopal Krishna, ToxicsWatch Alliance (TWA), Mb: 8002263335 (Patna), 09818089660 (Delhi), E-mail-krishna1715@gmail.com

Patna Declaration

Seeking environmental, occupational health infrastructure and

Prohibition on all forms of asbestos based products

Date: 24 December, 2012

Taking cognizance of the human rights violation involved in exposing people to killer asbestos

fibers and how even if few asbestos fibre reach the right places, it causes irreversible damage -

leading to asbestosis, lung cancer or mesothelioma;

Asserting the need for inclusion of environmental and occupational health study in the medical education;

Appreciating Union Ministry of Labour revelation that the “Government of India is considering the ban on use of chrysotile asbestos in India to protect the workers and the general population against primary and secondary exposure to Chrysotile form of Asbestos" at page no. 28 of its concept paper at the two-day 5th India-EU Joint Seminar on “Occupational Safety and Health” during 19-20 September, 2011.

Recalling the Supreme Court’s order of 1995 reiterated in 2012 seeking the Union and state governments in the Consumer Education and Research Centre (CERC) vs Union of India case to examine/review the matter with regard to asbestos exposure in tune with the resolution of the International Labour Organisation (ILO);

Awaiting the recommendations of Union Labour Ministry’s Advisory Committee to implement Supreme Court order issued 15 years ago since ILO has also made certain specific directions vide its Resolution of 2006 introducing a ban on all mining, manufacture, recycling and use of all forms of asbestos.

Recollecting that Supreme Court’s order of 21st January, 2011 that took cognizance of the resolutions of ILO directing s government to take immediate preventive steps;

Endorsing World Health Organisation’s resolution of 2005 seeking elimination of all forms of asbestos;

Disapproving Union Ministry of Environment & Forests Experts Appraisal Committee on Industry for approving environmental clearance of asbestos plants;

Asserting the fact that so far some 55 countries have banned all forms of asbestos, and are

already using alternative building materials;

Underlining that the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reconfirmed

that all commercial asbestos fibers - including chrysotile, the most commercially used form of

asbestos - cause lung cancer and mesothelioma. In addition, IARC newly confirmed that there is

sufficient evidence that asbestos causes ovarian cancer and reconfirmed asbestos causes laryngeal cancer;

Reminding the Government of India and State Government that there is incontrovertible evidence which creates a compelling logic for making India asbestos free;

Expressing solidarity with struggles ALL ACROSS THE NATION against Asbestos Factories

All public institutions must disclose the data regarding occupational diseases and occupational history, it should be mandatory for all public and private hospitals/ dispensaries and all medical practitioners.

Permanently stop the Asbestos factories at Mahua, Vaishali , Bhojpur and other parts of Bihar

Withdraw the cases against the protestors at Muzzafarpur and Mahua (Vaishali) and initiate criminal proceedings against the government and factory officials

We recommend that the Government should start efforts to decontaminate asbestos laden

buildings including schools, hospitals, railways and others

We urge the Governments at all level to adopt policy to not use asbestos containing building materials in Public building and adequately compensate the victims of asbestos-related diseases,

create a database of asbestos exposed people and victims as well as besides providing legal and

possible medical relief and taking preventive measures. We call on the government to create a

mesothelioma registry and a building registry of those facilities which have asbestos.

We urge the State of Bihar to ban Asbestos Product Use

We urge the Govt. of India to ban Asbestos Product Use

Endorsed by:

ToxicsWatch, Journal of Earth, Science, Economy and Justice

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