Industry & Economy
-
Environment
Greenpeace demands closure of HIL unit
Our Bureau
Kochi
,
July 7
GREENPEACE, a global environment organisation, has demanded the immediate closure of the Hindustan Insecticides Ltd (HIL) factory and other hazardous units operating in the Eloor Industrial Estate in view of the fire, which broke out in one of the units of HIL on Tuesday.
Mr V.J. Jose, Greenpeace-appointed Periyar river keeper, said that the toxic crisis at the Eloor Industrial belt is the result of decades of shortsighted planning. The association, he said, has been constantly demanding that factories implement a transparent disaster management plan and an emergency response system. Regulatory bodies, such as the Pollution Control Board, the Factories Department and the State Health and Industries Department, have been apathetic, Mr Jose said.
The fire disaster is just the tip of the iceberg. Thermal degradation products, such as endosulfan, HCCP and toluene, can be highly corrosive and toxic and have long-term environmental effects, he said.
The Eloor industrial area, on the banks of river Periyar, has over 250 industries with more than a dozen large chemical factories. Greenpeace declared Eloor a global toxic hotspot when scientific studies conducted in 1999 and 2002 revealed serious pollution at Eloor and presence of persistent organic and inorganic compounds and heavy metals in Periyar.
Greenpeace demanded complete access to the HIL factory site for independent observers to assess and recommend precautions to be taken to reduce environmental and health impact on Eloor.
It also urged that the Union Government must reassess the current industrial planning and operational policies, and make it mandatory for industries to incorporate clean production technologies. Greenpeace also demanded the State Government to undertake comprehensive health investigations to assess impact on human health.
More Stories on :
Environment |
Pesticides |
Kerala
Article
E-Mail
::
Comment
::
Syndication
::
Printer Friendly Page
|
