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Journalism of Courage
Nearly 7,000 labourers,mostly migrants,employed in 42 large sponge iron units in West Bengal,are suffering from various diseases caused by pollution emitted by the units.
At an interactive session organised by Nagarik Mancha,an NGO,on Saturday,several victims of such units raised their voice against the industrial policy of the Left Front government.
Experts alleged that the government,on the pretext of setting up industries on less fertile land in Purulia,Birbhum,Jhargram,Bankura and Durgapur,is exposing the people to fatal pollutants like chromium,cadmium,carbon monoxide,carbon di-oxide,nitrogen,nickel,arsenic and manganese. The production of sponge iron is extremely hazardous to the environment.
“Sponge iron factories affect our lives. Besides polluting water,air and soil it affects the health of animals and humans. Rice crop turns black with iron dust and other chemicals affect our farming. We have given deputations to the panchayat heads,the SDO,BDO and even the DM but to no avail,” said Deb Kumar Bose from Jhargram.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board,nearly 150 large sponge iron units besides several smaller units are operating in the country. “The government and the pollution control board are yet to take any action. In the guise of setting up steel and iron ore industries,sponge iron units are given a free run,” said Naba Datta of Nagarik Mancha.
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