Man gets different benefits from nature like air, sunshine, plants, fresh water, mineral water and therapeutic mud which promote physical and physiological process of man directly and indirectly and cure him from various diseases.
The ecological relationship between men and nature is established and developed over a course of evolution, which has not yet been fully studied. The complexity of such relationship in different stages in the development of society should be properly studied.
The mineral waters and therapeutic mud have substantial recreational and prophylactic properties. The physic –chemical properties of these natural medical factors in the field of prophylaxis treatment and rehabilitation of patients acquire much importance for treating people suffering from various diseases. The physic –chemical properties of water and mud is built up through natural and bio- chemical process of nature. This is not the process of a few years but long years. The ecology as well as the minerals of a particular locality impact therapeutic properties of water and mud. The exploitation of minerals and destruction of ecology is therefore a matter of grave concern. The mining and industrial areas in the State are therefore vulnerable to various diseases. Constant exposure to pollution and lack of a supportive ecology make matter worse.
In developing country like India, where industrialization is given much of importance, disease such as silicosis is spreading like an epidemic. Silicosis is caused due to prolonged inhalation of silica dust. When man is constantly exposed to breathing tiny particles of silica, quartz or slate, he suffers from such disease.
In Odisha lakhs of stone quarries are running but the fate of the mine labourers is not studied. The cement factories, thermal power stations, fly ash, almunium plants, ferro-manganese plants, steel plants and sand quarries create respiratory diseases like silicosis, asthma and cancer etc. The attention of the International labour Organizations (IlO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) needs to be drawn to the problem.
It is admitted that silicosis is an occupational lung disease. No reliable estimates of the extent and severity of silicosis are available in India even though there are several Government machineries to deal with the matter.
Inadequate enforcement of legislation is now becoming a cause of concern. There is inadequate awareness on the cause and preventive measures of silicosis among the industrial workers, employees, medical professionals and Government agencies. Hence coordinated and concerted efforts for prevention of the disease are highly necessary. The companies handling industrial and mining projects should take adequate steps for the prevention of the disease in the State. They should ensure that the environment in which they are functioning should be clean and unaffected.
Disease is a negative factor in industrial sector as it slows down production. Silicosis affects all sectors of economy, while the unorganized sector is the worst affected. It causes enormous economic loss to the industries. Hence, there should be a documented national police for prevention and elimination of silicosis. Given the enormity of the ailment, it should be integrated with the national programmes for elimination of malaria, TB and leprosy etc. There is an urgent need to formulate a national programme for elimination of silicosis from the country with long term objectives as this is detrimental to environment, health and economy.
According to reports, the population at occupational risk of silicosis in India is as follows: (a) mine and quarries, 1,7,00,000 (b) manufacturing and basic metals alloys (steel copper) ferroalloy etc, 6,29,000 and manufacture of products (refectory glass mica etc ) 6,71,000. Man needs to have a cordial relation with nature. A strong bond between two can go a long way in building a healthy, developed and peaceful society.
(The writer is a former senior forest officer and an environmentalist. Tel no 9937460649)