Asbestos: Red card after green concern

The factory, being set up by Kolkata-based Balmukund Cement and Roofing Limited, has, however, hit a roadblock after the Nitish regime decided to stall its approval from the State Investment Promotion Board (SIPB) following large-scale demonstrations in Muzaffarprur and Patna.

Though the plant is the first major investment in the state, ever since Nitish Kumar returned to power with a brute majority in November last, its fate continues to hang in balance even though it has got clearance from the Union environment ministry as well as Bihar SIPB. Unrelenting angry villagers have stalled the construction of the work on the ground that the unit could be a health hazard and spread cancer. Of late, social activists, including Medha Patkar, too have lent their support to the villagers, thereby forcing Nitish to have a fresh look over the investment proposal.

No ban

“Asbestos plants exist in different parts of the country. There is no ban on its manufacturing. If it is harmful, we should look into all aspects and take measures to put a ban on it,” said Nitish, reiterating that large-scale protests have forced his government to deny SIPB approval to the plant. “But I have been told that the asbestos unit had got clearance from the Union environment ministry,” he added.

When Union environment and forest minister Jairam Ramesh visited Bihar last month, he was also flooded with complaints against the upcoming asbestos plant not only from villagers but several environmentalists and experts on asbestos from across the world. Environmental consultant and asbestos hazard expert Barry Castleman too drew Nitish and Ramesh’s attention over the vexed issue.

Ironically, the movement to shelve the asbestos factory is being spearheaded by SUCI, a left wing union, which has not raised any objections over the five asbestos factories already running in West Bengal.

Bihar Industry Association (BIA) members say that there are 54 asbestos plants which are functional in different parts of India. “Out of this, three are already in Bihar — Bihia, Giddha (Ara) and Mahua (Hajipur),” said a senior BIA member. “Besides, the one in question (near Muzaffapur) and two plants near Bettiah are in the pipe-line,” he said and added, “Still India continues to import huge quantity of asbestos from 28 foreign countries.”

Bihar industry circle is treating the controversy over asbestos plant as a test case for Nitish. Traders argue that an NGO — BANI (Ban Asbestos Network of India) too has jumped into the demonstration fray despite the ruling of apex court headed by Chief Justice S H Kapadia on January 21. The bench had refused to ban the manufacture of asbestos, completely or partially, while dismissing the PIL filed by another NGO — Kalyaneshwari. The supreme court, however, directed the concerned authorities to ensure that all appropriate and protective steps to meet specific standards, under the Provisions of Environment (Protection) Act 1986, are taken before issuing environmental clearance.

Bihar industrialists say, “Instead of pressing for adequate and improved safety norms, demonstrations in Muzaffarpur have become a launch pad for certain individuals who have their own vested interests to throw a spanner in the state’s industrialisation drive.”
To buttress his point, he refers to the proceedings in the parliament where a debate had earlier taken place. “Whenever a question over ban on use of asbestos had been raised in the House, the Union minister concerned had replied in negative,” the BIA member argued.

Questioning the incoherent theories over the issue, he said, “If a rule is applicable throughout India, then it’s also applicable in Bihar.”