Gasping on flyash

THOUSANDS in the Kolaghat area of
Midnapore district in West Bengal
are suffering from silicosis, due to
dumps of flyash generated by Kolaghat's 1,260 megawatt thermal power
project, according to a retently published booklet, Anusandhan: Jal, Vayu,
Matee, compiled by Nagarik Manch, a
Calcutta-based group. Silicosis is a
major respirlory affliction, caused by
sustained exposure to "active silica"
floating around in very fine dust form
and lodgiig itself in the respiratory
tract. This is the first systematic field
report on'this problem.

The report,says that apart from
"active silica" lead, manganese,
chromium and even traces of radioactive uranium have been found in ,
Kolaghat's atmosphere.

The entire rural economic activity has been thrown out of gear due to
these health problems. Of the total
amount 'of the famous Bangla paan
(betel leaf of Bengal) sold in the
the country and abroad, 75 per cent
came from Kolaghat and adjoining areas, Kolaghat is also one of
the main flower producing centres
which cater to national and international markets. Both these farming
activities have been severely affected,
reports Anusandhan.

The fishing activity of the area
has also suffered, and almost 200
fishing families living in nearby
Aror village woe forced to give up their
livelihood.

West Bengal produces around
40.5 milli6. in to Aes of flyash each year,
of which -1,,olaghat accounts for 30 in
tonnes. The coal used here produces
40 per cent of its weight in ash after
burning. Anusandhan reports that the 3
sink ponds in Kolaghat are already
brimming with ash, and the authorities
are digging more ponds. According to
Anusandhan, it is possible to make
30 lakh bricks every year from flyash
generated by Kolaghat. However, figures show that only 50,000 are being
produced annually.

Hundred families which have
been displaced due to the Kolaghat
project and "resettled" in Shrikrishnapur Rehabilitation Centre are living
without the basic minimum civic
amenities, and, ironically, without even
the power for which they were rendered homeless.