An us7ownedvanadi'u'm mine in Vametcoin tfie North West provinceseems to be doing a repeat ofthe Bhopal gas tragedy.Inhabitants of the villages ofMothutlung which has apopulation of around12,000, and Rankhoteawhich has a population ofabout 2,000, have called foran open debate on the issue.Apparently, workers aredying, and children and oldpeople are falling ill dueto Ipoisoned' undergroundwater and mine dust blowinginto their homes. Workersat the mine have also complained of chest problems and coughing, with many of them having blue-green tongues associated with vanadium poisoning. Workers, who s howed symptoms of vanadium poisoning were sacked or given early retirement on some pretext. Families of those workers who had died of poisoning are demanding compensation.