BIHAR HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION SUMMONS DM and CMO/Civil Surgeon on deaths and diseases from Asbestos factory in Bhojpur

Written By Gopal Krishna on Thursday, May 29, 2014 | 4:52 AM

The Bihar Human Rights Commission has directed the District Magistrate, Bhojpur and CMO-cum-Civil Surgeon, Bhojpur to appear before the Commission on 09th July, 2014 (Wednesday) at 12:00 hrs  along with action taken report in the matter. In an order/notice dated 28.05.2014, Bihar Human Rights Commission about  operations of  Asbestos based factory Ramco industries in Bihiya, Bhojpur, wherein a worker Sh. Virendra Kumar Singh@ Sh. Barak Yadav  died  a painful death  due to lung  related disease  and consequent contracted exposure   from  asbestos fibers and that each worker  in the factory faces similar fate, it has asked for responses from (1) Principal Secretary, Industries Deptt., Govt. of Bihar (2) Secretary, Pollution Control Board, Bihar (3) District Magistrate, Bhojpur and (4) CMO-cum-Civil Surgeon, Bhojpur. 

While preliminary responses  have been received from the Industries Deptt., and Pollution Control Board,  the District Magistrate, Bhojpur and the CMO-cum-Civil Surgeon , Bhojpur have not sent any response so far despite Commission's letter nos. 2020 dt. 25.02.2014, 4593 dt.16.04.2014 and 5743 dt. 21.05.2014.
   
The Commission has directed the District Magistrate, Bhojpur and CMO-cum-Civil Surgeon, Bhojpur to appear before the Commission on 09th July, 2014 (Wednesday) at 12:00 hrs along with action taken report in the matter.

It is, however, clarified that if reports  are received by 07th July, 2014, their personal appearance, will remain
dispensed with.

The copy of the order has been sent to the (1) District Magistrate, Bhojpur (2) CMO-cum-Civil Surgeon, Bhojpur for necessary action and to the (3) Principal Secretary, Industries Deptt., Bihar & (4) Secretary,
Pollution Control Board, Bihar, Patna for information.

ToxicsWatch Alliance (TWA) has drawn the attention of BHRC seeking its intervention to protect communities in villages around the hazardous industrial units of Ramco Industries in Bihiya and Giddha who cannot be expected to become superior risk bearers unlike villagers of Muzaffarpur and Vaishali where similar plants have been stopped.

When defending the indefensible asbestos factories becomes a compulsion of officialdom, disasters like the one witnessed in the factory of Union Carbide Corporation (UCC)'s hazardous pesticide plant become the order of the day.

For Details: Gopal Krishna, ToxicsWatch Alliance (TWA), Mb:08227816731, 09818089660, Email:gopalkrishna1715@gmail.com, Web:www.toxicswatch.org