44 acres agro land acquired for Asbestos Factory; Resistance Continues

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The grand development process is triggered in Bihar with all media stunt and the doors are opened for investors. The logical consequences of development projects are surfacing too. As Kolkata based Balmukund Cement and Roofing Ltd (BCRL) is allowed to set up killing dust Asbestos factory at Chainpur-Vishunpur village under Madawan Block, Muzaffarpur as a part of development project in Bihar is resulting into serious resistance by the villagers. The agricultural land is acquired on large scale for this project. These lands are acquired illegally through legal means charged Arun Singh, a social activist.
It was the clear case of collusion of Corporate and State and an apparent violation of Environment Protection Act, 1986 through which no forced displacement can be done. According to National Rehabilitation Policy, 2009, agricultural land cannot be used for industrial project. According to Environment Protection Act under notification of year 1994, before setting up any factory, its mandatory for every Factory owner to undertake study regarding Environmental Impact Assessment of the region as well as public hearing.
There has been a movement from last end of the June month in Muzaffarpur against this factory. Earlier, it was just sleepy hamlet of 25,000 populations. The process of setting up the Asbestos factory has been started since September, 2009. The villagers said they acquired our 44 acre lands (but company mentioned 17.4 acre of lands in its EIA report) in the name of Agro-based Industry.
They cleverly didnt put even a hoarding to indicate the proposed site for. The company had virtually made no effort to disseminate the information regarding its harmful impact. As they have undertaken Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) along with constructions of their proposed site since March.
There were number of skirmishes occurred between administration and villagers from May, said Rajkumar Choudhary, AIDSO activist. He further added The Police dealt with to control the protestors whereas, allegedly, dealt with hand gloves with factory staffs.
In November, SDO of the Block announced stay over the construction on the factory site in front of thousands of protestors. But, the factory constructions were not stopped. It shows how administration have been backing the Company said Arun Kumar. Then villagers decided for indefinite strike at the gate of under constructed factory, he added.
On December 13, hundreds of the protestor sat on indefinite strike at the gate of proposed under-construction site. The factory manager hired 50-60 hooligans fired on the peaceful demonstrators. The fierce skirmished scene occurred at the site. The six-protestors injured. In which Harendra Mahto and Mantosh Kumar were seriously injured by the bullet. Later, they admitted at Muzaffarpur Sadar Hospital, and rest were hospitalized in a private clinic. The police were unseen while the protest was in swing
Ironically, FIR was registered against the protestors and they were charged with looting and ransoming. After furious protest, FIR was also registered against Sri Mishra & Sri Tiwary, owner representatives of the site, but no arrest is made yet.
The movement was led by the SUCIs (Socialist Unity Centre of India) student wing AIDSO(All India Democratic Students Organisation), Khet Bachao Jeevan Bachao Jansangharsh Committee and Citizen Forum. They all were made accused in this case.
One side country is reeling under food insecurity and other side this government is allowing dangerous Asbestos factories to set up on 50 acres agricultural land. They acquired the land in the name of Agro-based industries, said Ram Chander Ray, Convenor of Khet Bachao Jeevan Bachao Sangharsh Committee.
The BCRL plant is based on Chrysotile — the chemical name for white asbestos, which accounts for more than 95 per cent of the present world trade in asbestos.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines white asbestos as a rare fibrous material that is used to make rooftops and brake linings while explicitly stating that all types of asbestos result in lung cancer, mesothelioma, cancer of the larynx and ovary, and asbestosis (fibrosis of the lungs).
The Environmental Health Criterion (EHC) no. 203 as laid down by the International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS, established 1980) for Chrysotile asbestos clearly states: Exposure to Chrysotile asbestos poses increased risks for asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma in a dose-dependent manner. No threshold has been identified for carcinogenic risks.
As per the companys Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report, 29,000 TPA of raw asbestos fibre will be imported from Canada, Brazil and Zimbabwe.
More disturbingly, the EIA report, the company has stated that the land acquired by the company is completely barren and the project site situated at a considerable distance of 15 km from the nearest town. Whereas, the factory site which falls between the adjoining areas of Bishnupur-Chainpur is surrounded by wheat fields, vegetation and human habitation. There are 15 schools within the ambit of just a kilometer from the proposed site besides dozen of Aganwadi center. The Block office is at 7 km distance.

Harmful Asbestos:

A study undertaken by a volunteer organization in Gujrat on the workers of an asbestos company Gujarat Composite Limited reveals horrendous facts. 75 out of a thousand workers exposed to asbestos for ten years were diagnosed with lung cancer. At least 20 affected are dead. On the contrary Government version reveals that there is almost non-existent record of death or any harmful affect from Asbestos. In 2005, Ministry of Environment said that no complain has been received regarding death or damages by Carcinogenic contents.
Eminent socialist thinker, Schchidanand Sinha appealed Chief Minister not to allow harmful asbestos company to set up near population. Medha Patekar wrote an open letter to CM in this regard. Ban Asbestos Network of India(BANI) convener, Gopal Krishna, a man behind the successful advocacy for the return back of the Cleameanceu ship, who was moving towards the Alang port, a largest ship breaking port of the world in Gujarat, also sent a letter addressing Mr Nithish Kumar.
On Wednesday, noted Environmental Consultant and asbestos hazard expert Dr. Barry Castleman addressed letters to Mr. Kumar and Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh drawing their attention to the community resistance in Muzaffarpur over the proposed plant and the repressive measures initiated by the district authorities.
Dr. Dhruv Mukhopadhaya, former Professor Dhanbad Science Centre, said here that Our government do not discourages the Asbestos Factory while 52 countries had banned this and a notification has been pending in Rajya Sabha regarding ban of this killer dust
Gopal Krishna, answered a query how a poor man make its roof if it is completely banned. He says Dont think it is cheap but it has been made cheaper year by year. Most of the asbestos factories owners are our Parliamentarians. The custom duty was 78 % on the import of Asbestos in 1995, now it is reduced to 15%. Earlier this industry was growing by 10-12% but in 2004, its growth rate reached to 83%. There is trick behind its cheapness
The SUCIs student wing AIDSO, Khet Bachao Jeevan Bachao Jansangharsh Committee and Citizen Forum had submitted memorandum on Thursday of immediate release of the protestors and withdrawal of the charges slapped against them. NAPM leader Medha Patekar also demanded unconditional release of the villagers who were falsely charged in this case.