The Supreme Court last week issued bailable warrants against the Chairman of the country’s apex pollution watchdog — Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) — for failing to turn up with a report on the harmful effects of silicosis.
The court while hearing a PIl on the deaths caused to labourers in a quartz industry in Godhra, Gujarat prior to 2006 had noted how the problem was rampant across the country and ordered CPCB to prepare a report on how silicosis and pneumoconiosis diseases are caused due to air pollution from stone crushing units, quarries, quartz and glass industries, situated across the country.
Noting with disgust the absence of CPCB officials who did not bother to even be represented through a counsel, the Bench of Justices Kurian Joseph and Rohington F Nariman in its order of May 11, 2016 directed issuance of bailable warrants to Chairman CPCB. He will appear before the court on June 30.
In all, 238 people died due to silicosis working at Godhra’s quartz industry and another 304 developed complications following which they returned to their native State Madhya Pradesh. After learning about the significant number of deaths, the apex court had sought a report from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on the aspect of compensation
to be awarded to the families of deceased and those workers still bearing the brunt of silicosis.
The NHRC in its report submitted on November 12, 2010 ordered the Gujarat Government to pay Rs3 lakh each to the kin of the 238 deceased workers for failing to take any preventive steps leading to their death.
For the 304 workers settled in MP, the Commission recommended MP Government to provide a rehabilitation package.
While the apex court on May 4, 2016 asked both Gujarat and MP Governments to comply with the NHRC recommendations, it simultaneously wished to engage with the problem of silicosis and steps needed to prevent further deaths. It was with this view the Court had included CPCB as part of the PIl proceedings as early as on March 5, 2009.