THE villagers of Chinchugeria in West
Bengal are threatened by silica and gypsum dust released by two different factories. Even as they reel under the shock
of the recent loss of 20 lives to silicosis
caused by silica dust from the stone-crushing unit Surendra Khanij, they are
facing serious health hazards due to the
gypsum dust constantly emitted' by
Reshmi Cement Ltd.
Activists under the banner of a local
organisation, Top Quark Science Centre,
have forced Surendra Khanij to shut
down. Constant exposure to mineral
dust causes pneumoconiosis, a dust-disease affecting the lungs causing tuberculosis-like symptoms - asphyxiation,
breathlessness, weakness and giddiness.
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