THE villagers of Chinchugeria in WestBengal are threatened by silica and gypsum dust released by two different factories. Even as they reel under the shockof the recent loss of 20 lives to silicosiscaused by silica dust from the stone-crushing unit Surendra Khanij, they are facing serious health hazards due to thegypsum dust constantly emitted' byReshmi Cement Ltd.
Activists under the banner of a localorganisation, Top Quark Science Centre,have forced Surendra Khanij to shutdown. Constant exposure to mineraldust causes pneumoconiosis, a dust-disease affecting the lungs causing tuberculosis-like symptoms - asphyxiation,breathlessness, weakness and giddiness.