Monday 18 July 2011

POSCO Transit Camp, 52 families under lung cancer causing 52 asbestos shades

To

Shri Bijay Kumar Patnaik
Chief Secretary
Government of Odisha
Bhubneshwar

Subject- POSCO Transit Camp, 52 families under lung cancer causing 52 asbestos shades

Sir,

This is to draw your urgent attention towards "About 220 members of the 52 families have taken shelter in the POSCO Transit Camp. There are 52 asbestos sheds of 10 by 10 feet in three rows." In an article, titled "Orissa's 52000 Crore Rupees POSCO dream versus the days of 52 families" Bibhuti Bhushan Pati, the author reveals this disturbing fact. On 22nd June, 2011, Government of India took a position in Geneva at a UN Conference on Hazardous Chemicals that Asbestos is a Hazardous Chemical. The mining of all kinds of asbestos is technically banned in India besides ban on trade in asbestos waste (dust & fibers). This killer fiber has led to a huge death toll in Europe, Australia, Japan among some 5 dozen countries annually.  

On behalf of ToxicsWatch Alliance (TWA), I wish to express our grave concerns about the fatal diseases these families are likely to suffer from due to exposure of deadly fibers of asbestos, which is banned in over 55 countries.

I submit that on 6th July, 2011 National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), New Delhi has issued notice to Chief Secretary, Government of Odisha among others asking him to explain why asbestos should not be banned.

I wish to remind you that even the helicopter of Hon'ble President Smt Pratibha Patil, her husband Shri Devisingh Shekhawat and Hon'ble Odisha Governor, Shri M C Bhandari had collided with a asbestos roof of the shed was ripped off after being struck by three blades of the helicopter on 9th December, 2009 exposing them to killer fibers of the asbestos. A letter was sent to the Hon'ble President, Union Defence Minister and senior Odisha officials seeking inquiry about the adverse health impact of the likely exposure of hazardous asbestos fibers as part of the inquiry that was ordered by the Indian Air Force.

It is germane to draw your attention towards the proposed asbestos cement factory in Parmanpur, Sambalpur, Odisha which is facing opposition by the villagers. Earlier, I had written to the Odisha State Human Rights Commission drawing its attention towards it. There is an incontrovertible compelling logic against the construction of such toxic plants.

I submit that the State government must act with immediate effect to remove the asbestos roofs from the entire state including the 52 shades at the POSCO Transit Camp and the asbestos roofs on Bhubneshwar airport taking cognisance of the global movement against it and the the "New Delhi Declaration Seeking Elimination of Asbestos from India" (attached) signed by eminent scientists and jurists of the world in March 2011 after an International Conference at a medical college in the national capital. This message is copied to them for the state government to consult them at the earliest for any advice in this matter.    

I will be happy to share reference documents in this regard.

Thanking You

Yours Faithfully
Gopal Krishna
Convener
ToxicsWatch Alliance
New Delhi
Mb: 9818089660
E-mail: krishna2777@gmail.com, toxicswatchalliance@gmail.com
Web: toxicswatch.blogspot.com, banasbestosindia.blogspot.com

Cc
Hon'ble President of India
Hon'ble Governor, Government of Odisha
Union Minister of State for Environment & Forests (Independent Charge)
Chief Minister, Government of Odisha