ToxicsWatch
Alliance (TWA)
To
Chairman
Chairman
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)
New Delhi
29 December, 2016
Subject: Make India’s capital free of harmful asbestos based products
29 December, 2016
Subject: Make India’s capital free of harmful asbestos based products
Sir,
This is to draw your immediate intervention to make India’s capital free of harmful asbestos based products in view of the statement of Shri Anil Madhav Dave, Union Minister of Environment, Forest & Climate Change Government of India interview with The Times of India said “Since the use of asbestos is affecting human health, its use should gradually be minimised and eventually end. As far as I know, its use is declining. But it must end…”[1]
This is to draw your immediate intervention to make India’s capital free of harmful asbestos based products in view of the statement of Shri Anil Madhav Dave, Union Minister of Environment, Forest & Climate Change Government of India interview with The Times of India said “Since the use of asbestos is affecting human health, its use should gradually be minimised and eventually end. As far as I know, its use is declining. But it must end…”[1]
This is in keeping with
the 19 page long Vision Statement on Environment and Human Health of your
ministry which states ‘4.3.1 Environmental epidemiological studies are required
to be carried out near to industrial estates and hazardous waste disposal sites
to estimate the extent of health risks including from asbestos. Alternatives to
asbestos may be used to the extent possible and use of asbestos may be phased
out’.” The relevant URL of Vision Statement on Environment and Human Health is available
at www.envfor.nic.in/sites/default/files/visenvhealth.pdf
We submit that our
country is consuming 15 % of the total world asbestos production, as per US
Geological Survey estimates. As per 2014 data, India used 379,000 tonnes of
asbestos, out of which only 270 tonnes were mined in mines whose leases have
not yet expired. It has technically banned asbestos mining but it continues to
procure it from countries like Russia, Brazil, Kazakhstan and China. The
minister’s statement reveals that NHRC is right in its direction which reads:
“Replace the asbestos sheets roofing with roofing made up of some other
material that would not be harmful to inmates.”[2]
NHRC has already decided that asbestos harmful to human health. It is evident that the NHRC considers
asbestos sheets as harmful. It is noteworthy that asbestos fibers used for
making asbestos based products like asbestos cement roofs etc is a ticking time
bomb for lungs which causes preventable but incurable diseases and deaths.
We submit that Delhi has
three factories engaged in handling asbestos namely, Makino Auto Industries (P)
Ltd in Shahdara, Brakes International in Udyog Vihar and Minocha Metals (P) Ltd
in Patparganj Industrial Area.
We submit that these
companies should be asked to switch non-asbestos materials in the light of the
fact that some 48 countries have banned white asbestos mineral fibers that
causes incurable lung cancer according to World Health Organisation (WHO). This
will go a long way in combating fatal diseases caused corporate crimes and in
making national capital the first region in the country to adopt zero-tolerance
policy towards the killer asbestos fibers.
We submit that so far
some 48 countries have banned asbestos as of November 2016. These countries are
: Germany, Chile, Argentina, South Africa, France, Australia, Norway, Spain,
Belgium, United Kingdom, Israel, Turkey, Mauritius, Denmark, Ireland,
Mozambique, Seychelles, Egypt, Netherlands, Slovakia, Italy, Japan, New
Zealand, Bahrain and Jordan, Gabon, South Korea, New Caledonia, Slovenia,
Austria, Finland, Sweden, Brunei, Oman, Kuwait, Poland, Switzerland, Bulgaria,
Gibraltar, Latvia, Portugal, Greece, Estonia, Lithuania, Qatar, Croatia,
Honduras, Luxembourg, Romania, Uruguay, Cyprus, Hungary, Malta, Saudi Arabia,
Czech Republic, Iceland, Serbia and Algeria.
We submit that National
Human Rights Commission (NHRC) passed an order in Case No: 693/30/97-98
recommending that the asbestos sheets roofing be replaced with roofing made up
of some other material that would not be harmful.
We submit that
Government should be asked to ensure decontamination of asbestos from the old
schools and ensure that no asbestos roofs or any asbestos material is used in
any school or public or private building in Delhi.
We submit that Delhi’s
Govt should be asked to take steps to ensure that only non-asbestos building
material and water supply pipes etc are procured. A register of asbestos laden
buildings and victims of asbestos related diseases should be created. A
compensation fund for the victims of primary and secondary exposure must be
established.
We submit that substitutes
for asbestos based products are not limited to products that simply replace
asbestos with another material (e.g., PVA and cellulose in fiber-cement roofing
sheet). There are also a number of wholly different products that can
replace the asbestos products. It is noteworthy that asbestos of all kinds
including white chrysotile asbestos is banned in some 50 countries.
We submit that while asbestos mining is technically banned in the country, in a shocking case of inconsistency India continues to import asbestos from asbestos producing countries like Russia, Brazil Kazakhstan and China. Trade in asbestos waste (dust and fiber) is also banned.
We submit that while asbestos mining is technically banned in the country, in a shocking case of inconsistency India continues to import asbestos from asbestos producing countries like Russia, Brazil Kazakhstan and China. Trade in asbestos waste (dust and fiber) is also banned.
We submit that by
letter dated 9th July, 1986 from Union Ministry of Steel, Mines &
Coal, Government of India with reference no. 7/23/84-AM-III/AM-VI there is a
stay on grant of new mining lease for asbestos mineral and renewal of the
leases. Reiterating the same in June 1993, central government stopped the
renewal of existing mining leases of asbestos. The mining activity was banned
by Union Ministry of Mines.
As a result at present
no permission is being given for new mining lease of asbestos mineral and no
lease is being renewed. At present no lease of asbestos mineral is approved/or
in force in the country.
It is strange that while mining of asbestos is banned in the country due to adverse health impact, the same is being imported from Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Zimbabwe. It high time government stopped practicing such untenable policies displaying manifest double standards.
In a bizarre act while Government of India has technically banned asbestos mining, it continues to allow import and export of asbestos. "In view of the deleterious effect of asbestos mining on health of the workers, the government has ordered the State governments in 1986 not to grant any new mining lease for asbestos (including Chrysotile variety) in the country" as per Government of India’s letter. Government must be made make India asbestos free by rectifying the irrationality of banning mining of asbestos but continuing its trade.
It is strange that while mining of asbestos is banned in the country due to adverse health impact, the same is being imported from Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Zimbabwe. It high time government stopped practicing such untenable policies displaying manifest double standards.
In a bizarre act while Government of India has technically banned asbestos mining, it continues to allow import and export of asbestos. "In view of the deleterious effect of asbestos mining on health of the workers, the government has ordered the State governments in 1986 not to grant any new mining lease for asbestos (including Chrysotile variety) in the country" as per Government of India’s letter. Government must be made make India asbestos free by rectifying the irrationality of banning mining of asbestos but continuing its trade.
We submit that
following vibrant struggle in villages of Muzaffarpur and Vaishali in Bihar and
Bargarh in Odisha stopped the establishment of asbestos based plants. There are struggles going in Bhojpur, Bihar
against such heavily polluting factories.
In view of the same, if
the Commission can recommend ban on procurement of asbestos based products by
government agencies it will send a clear signal that it is sensitive towards
the health of present and future citizens of national capital.
We will be happy to
share relevant information in this regard.
Yours faithfully
Dr Gopal Krishna
ToxicsWatch Alliance (TWA)
Mb: 08227816731, 09818089660
E-mail:1715krishna@gmail.com
ToxicsWatch Alliance (TWA)
Mb: 08227816731, 09818089660
E-mail:1715krishna@gmail.com
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