Thursday 28 June 2012

Bury Asbestos, not People of Tamil Nadu

To

Hon’ble Chief Minister Government of Tamil Nadu Chennai

Date: 28/6/2012

Subject- Bury Asbestos, not People of Tamil Nadu

Through Chief Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu

Madam,

This is to draw your urgent attention towards the news item ‘Ramco Industries looks to add asbestos sheet capacity’ (Rajesh Chandramouli, The Times of India, June 25, 2012) which reveals the disturbing trend of Tamil Nadu becoming the hotspot of hazardous asbestos based production, exposing the people to incurable lung cancer risks. The news report is attached.

I submit that there is a bitter resistance going on against asbestos based factories in Bihar and Odisha. The construction of lung cancer causing white asbestos plants must be put on hold. These plants must be stopped in view of the global, national and movement against such plants which are referred to as Time Bombs for lungs.

I submit that in West Bengal, the ruling party that indulged in indefensible acts like awarding the ‘Environment Excellence Award’ to an asbestos company, Singur and Nandigram like industrialization lost people’s trust.

I submit that the promotion of asbestos continues despite the fact that alternatives to asbestos exist. The Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) for instance has developed roofing tiles and blocks using coir fibre and cement.

I wish to inform you that proposed asbestos plants at Muzaffarpur and Vaishali in Bihar have been stopped following resistance by villagers.

I wish to inform you what Professor Elihu D Richter MD from the Hadassah School of Medicine of Hebrew University, Israel says about asbestos. He says: “All form of asbestos kill. India should bury asbestos, not people….India should not repeat the mistakes of going back some 70 years which will kill tens of thousands of workers and their families.”

I submit that asbestos was identified as a carcinogen way back in 1965. As a consequence fifty-five countries have already banned asbestos.

I submit that State Government should persuade the central government which does not favour new asbestos plants in the country in principle to translate its pious intention into practice. "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." It has noted that "Asbestosis is yet another occupational disease of the Lungs which is on an increase under similar circumstances warranting concerted efforts of all stake holders to evolve strategies to curb this menace". A concept paper by Union Ministry of Labour revealed this at the two-day 5th India-EU Joint Seminar on “Occupational Safety and Health” on 19-20th September, 2011. (Reference: http://www.labour.nic.in/lc/Background%20note.pdf).

I submit that Union Railway Ministry has started procuring asbestos free products.

I submit that the Union Environment Ministry’s 19 page Vision Statement on Environment and Human Health (Para 4.3.1) on page 12 which reads: “Alternatives to asbestos may be used to the extent possible and use of asbestos may be phased out” merit serious consideration. The same is available at moef.nic.in/divisions/cpoll/envhealth/visenvhealth.pdf.

I submit that Union Ministry of Mines has already technically banned asbestos mining in India.

I submit that the position of Union Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers at the UN meeting on Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade on June 22, 2011 revealed that India’s supports to inclusion of Chrysotile (white) asbestos in the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) list of hazardous chemicals. This was a major breakthrough. It ended the deadlock over the inclusion of Chrysotile in the PIC list. White asbestos has twice been recommended for inclusion by the Chemical Review Committee of the Convention. It was considered for the 3rd time by delegates to the 5th Conference of the Parties. Some 212 hazardous chemicals and pesticides have been notified in the list of banned or severely restricted chemicals. The white asbestos is all set to be formally included in the list.

I submit that you should not allow public interest to be undermined by a small minority more interested in defending the financial interests of a powerful asbestos industry rather than in protecting public health.

I submit that the State government should form a high powered committee of occupational health and legal experts must examine the impact of asbestos exposure on the workers and the villagers who live in the vicinity of these plants.

I wish to draw your attention towards a statement from National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) that has revealed that State government has failed to submit its report on asbestos related diseases. The statement dated June 5, 2012 is attached. NHRC had issued the notice to Chief Secretary, Tamil Nadu Government on July 6, 2011. Both the notice and the statement is attached.

I submit that immediate steps are required to prevent environmental and occupational exposure to asbestos' besides non-occupational exposures to asbestos by banning use and manufacturing of white asbestos based products. It will set a healthy precedent for all the other states, the central government and neighboring countries. I submit that the incurable diseases caused by white asbestos merit your attention. It is high time you intervened to stop any asbestos plant from being set up in the State because among other things it damages the reputation of the State by showing complete absence of scientific temper.

In this regard the Chief Secretary may be asked to submit his report on victims of Asbestos diseases to the NHRC at the earliest announce compensation package for present and future victims of these incurable lung diseases. In this regard the attached New Delhi Declaration Seeking Elimination of all forms of Asbestos including White Asbestos from India that was issued by world’s renowned scientists, doctors and jurists in March 2011 also merit your attention.

I earnestly appeal to you to pay heed to the recommendations of Kerala State Human Rights Commission (KSHRC) in its order dated January 31, 2009. The recommendations are: a) The State Government will replace asbestos roofs of all school buildings under its control with country tiles in a phased manner. b) The Government will take steps to see that the schools run under the private management also replace the asbestos roofs with country tiles by fixing a time frame. c) The Government should see that in future no new school is allowed to commence its functions with asbestos roofs. These recommendations are relevant for Tamil Nadu as well. It underlines the need for banning use of asbestos roofs in the State.

I submit that asbestos producing countries like Canada, Russia, Kazakhstan, China and Brazil have are dumping their asbestos to user countries like India. Interestingly, Canada has a no home use policy. In India, asbestos mining is technically banned. Trade in asbestos waste (dust and fibers) is banned but the process of banning trade, manufacturing and use of white asbestos is held because of the corporate infleunce of the asbetsos companies over ruling parties.

In view of the above, it is evident that there are grave concerns about asbestos exposures resulting in public health crisis world over. This has compelled 55 countries to ban use of asbestos.

Therefore, given the fact that health is a State subject, it is up to you to choose to ensure that Tamil Nadu becomes the first State in India and South Asia to ban asbestos. This will enhance State’s prestige. It will be yet another act that will compel central government to emulate you and initiate concrete steps for national ban on trade, manufacturing and use of asbestos based products.

Let me take the opportunity to seek an appointment for a delegation comprising of doctors, scientists and eminent citizens.

Thanking You

Yours Faithfully Gopal Krishna, ToxicsWatch Alliance (TWA), New Delhi Mb: 08002263335, 09818089660 Phone: +91-11-26517814, Fax: +91-11-26517814 E-mail:krishna1715@gmail.com, Web:toxicswatch.blogspot.com, banasbestosindia.blogspot.com

Cc Dr Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister, Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare Union Minister of Environment & Forests Union Commerce & Industry Minister Union Minister of Chemicals & Fertilizers Union Minister of Rural Development Chief Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu Secretary, Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare Secretary, Union Ministry of Environment & Forests Secretary, Union Ministry of Commerce & Industry Secretary, Union Ministry of Finance Secretary, Union Ministry of Rural Development Secretary, Union Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers

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