The burnt factory premises: a health hazard to local residents
Toxic gases and smoke spread all over the island of Eloor,
forcing many people to abandon their homes and rush to the banks of
the river Periyar. A State Medical Team, which had come to assess
the situation, reported that the residents were complaing of
atypical symptoms (local and systemic) inclusive of irritation to
the eyes and skin, headaches and dizziness, convulsions and
unconsciousness related to exposure to Endosulphan and toluene.
"We have been demanding our fundamental Right to Information on
the Hazardous Chemicals used, processed and manufactured in the
area and have also been demanding that the factories make
transparent and implement a disaster management plan and an
emergency response system. The response from the concerned
regulatory bodies such as the PCB, the Factories Department and the
State Health and Industries Department have been apathetic to say
the least " said VJ Jose, Greenpeace appointed Periyar River
Keeper. "The Industries in the area and their management have been
completely ignoring the community demands, as the community is
dependent on the factories here. Over the last 3 years the
community here has witnessed quite a few gas leaks and accidents"
he further added.
This disaster in itself is just the tip of the iceberg. The
thermal degradation of products such as Endosulphan , HCCP and
Toluene could be highly corrosive and toxic and could have
long-term effects on the environment and people here. Further, the
combustion of Organochlorine products could very well result in the
release of dioxins and furans, which would compound the
problem.
"This is a dark day for the workers and communities at Eloor,
whose lives are blighted by exposure to toxic pollution caused by
the industries here. If industries are not held accountable for
their environmental crimes, they will continue in their current
mode of poisoning the workers, communities and our Periyar. The
accident at HIL is the final nail in the coffin. We will no longer
tolerate this" said VJ Jose.
The Eloor Industrial area on the banks or River Periyar hosts
over 250 industries with more than a dozen large chemical
factories. Hindustan Insecticides Limited has been in the eye of
the storm for quite some time now. Greenpeace declared Eloor to be
a Global Toxic Hotspot when scientific Studies conducted in 1999
and 2002 revealed the serious pollution at Eloor and of the Periyar
with persistent organic and inorganic compounds and heavy metals.
Some of these are Persistent Organic Pollutants that not only
contaminate the local environment, but also circulate around the
globe. A health study conducted by Greenpeace in 2003 further
established that the people in Eloor are suffering from a number of
diseases linked to the contamination of their land, air and water
by these poisons, and that the incidence of death and diseases is
unnaturally high.
"The present toxic crisis at the Eloor Industrial belt is the
result of decades of shortsighted planning. The tactics employed by
the Industry and the Government is a dangerous manifestation of
their reluctance to address the real problem of pollution. Eloor is
yet another Bhopal happening in slow motion. Ironically, it seems
that the Government is waiting for a calamity of gigantic
proportions to happen before they react in favour of the community"
said Sanjiv Gopal, Campaigner Greenpeace.
"The demands from the community, and from Greenpeace are clear-
Irresponsible and reckless functioning Industries such as HIL must
be stopped NOW. Clean production technologies, environmentally
sound containment of hazardous wastes and zero discharge is the
only way forward if these industries must function" he further
added.
Greenpeace demands:-
* Complete access to the factory site for independent observers,
to enable them to assess and recommend precautions, which need to
be taken to remediate the environmental and community health
impacts at Eloor.
* Cancellation of HIL's permissions and immediate closure of the
factory and other hazardous units operating in the Eloor Industrial
Estate
* The Government of Kerala undertakes comprehensive health
investigations to assess the impacts of this disaster on human
health.
* The Government of India reassesses current Industrial planning
and operational policies and makes it mandatory for industries to
incorporate clean production technologies in their processes.
For further information, please contact:
Sanjiv Gopal, Toxics Campaigner, Greenpeace India:
+919845535416
