Skip to main content

Indian co all set to buy 50,000 tonnes of "cancerous" asbestos from Zimbabwe thanks to Modi govt "indifference"

By A Representative
An anti-asbestos campaign organization has expressed the fear that an Indian company is all to import 50,000 tonnes of the hazardous commodity which allegedly causes cancer. Quoting ‘The Mirror’, a well-known daily newspaper of Zimbabwe, it says that this follows after the Government of Zimbabwe "muscling its efforts to reopen the Shabani Mashaba Mines (SMM)".
A principal supplier of asbestos, the state-run company was shut down amid financial scandals back in 2004, but is likely to "reopen at full capacity employing up to 5,000 workers", says the Occupational and Environmental Health Network India (OEHNI), underlining, this has happened "because the Indian company has shown keen interest in importing 50,000 tonnes of SMM’s asbestos annually."
OEHNI notes, this is happening even though, "in recognition of its harmful effects, asbestos mining is banned in India for the last three decades". However, it adds, " Industries exploit legal loopholes and import vast quantities of asbestos and produce various products, directly increasing public health risks and subject workers to occupational diseases."
Asbestos, when inhaled, causes asbestosis, an inflammatory scarring of lung tissues, which leads to permanent and irreversible damage to the respiratory system, weakening the immune system and overall functioning of the body. According to studies, it can also lead to lung cancer, cancer of mesothelioma and various other organ cancers.
"The risk associated with the use of asbestos is far greater than the benefits, ipso facto global consensus on banning the use of asbestos except for India", says OEHNI in its statement, but avoids naming the company.
"The asbestos sheets used in roofing on anganwadis and other public spaces expose children and adults alike to the harmful effects of asbestos", it says, insisting, "The Indian company in question needs to be investigated. The Government of India has the responsibility to protect its citizens through unilateral action to ban mining, import, production, sale and consumption of all materials based on asbestos with immediate effect."
Underlining that the problem lies at the policy level, OEHNI, quoting the Rotterdam Convention, an international treaty to investigate, monitor and restrict trans-boundary transportation of toxic substances, says that the Indian delegation has "stubbornly disagreed and has repeatedly blocked listing of chrysotile (white asbestos) in Rotterdam Convention Hazardous Substances list (Annex III)".
"Even the subcontinental neighbours, Nepal and Sri Lanka, are well on their way to permanently ban production and consumption of asbestos", it says, adding, yet, "Our administration and governing politicians continue to ignore the constitutional and judicial rights of our own less fortunate brothers and sisters."
Earlier, in a letter to the President of India, OEHNI's national coordinator, Jagdish Patel, reminded him how India helped block the inclusion of the chrysotile (white asbestos) in the Rotterdam Convention Hazardous Substances list (Annex III), despite the fact that some 60 countries "including Japan, Europe, Australia, and also International Labour Organization and World Health Organization, firmly believe that ‘safe and controlled use’ of asbestos is not possible".
"The convention had put an eye opening figure that more than 100,000 people die each year from various asbestos related diseases including a rare cancer of mesothelioma", Patel said, adding, this runs against the Union Environment Ministry’s Vision Statement that says, “Alternatives to asbestos may be used to the extent possible and use of asbestos may be phased out”. 

Comments

David Trigg said…
Please India, ban the use of asbestos now and stop risking the lives of your own people for the sake of profit. Manufacture and use alternatives to asbestos, that is profitable as well, and safe.
Follow the recent example of Canada and The Ukraine and ban ALL asbestos now.

David Trigg.
Derby.
England.

TRENDING

How community leaders overcome obstacles to protect forests and pastures in remote villages

By Bharat Dogra  Dheera Ram Kapaya grew up in such poverty that, unable to attend school himself, he would carry another boy’s heavy school bag for five kilometers just to get a scoop of daliya (porridge). When he was finally able to attend school, he had to leave after class five to join other adolescent workers. However, as soon as opportunities arose, he involved himself in community efforts—promoting forest protection, adult literacy, and other constructive initiatives. His hidden talent for writing emerged during this time, and he became known for the songs and street play scripts he created to promote forest conservation, discourage child marriages, and support other social reforms.

Workers' groups condemn Gujarat Ordinance increasing working hours, warn of statewide agitation

By A Representative   At a consultation organised today by the Asangathit Shramik Hit Rakshak Manch at Circuit House in Ahmedabad, leaders of major trade unions and labour rights organisations strongly opposed the Gujarat government’s recent ordinance amending the Factories Act and the draft rules notified under the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Code, 2020. Around 50 representatives from central trade unions, independent unions, and labour welfare organisations participated in the meeting.

Deaths in Chhattisgarh are not just numbers – they mark a deeper democratic crisis

By Sunil Kumar  For a while, I had withdrawn into a quieter life, seeking solace in nature. But the rising tide of state-sponsored violence and recurring conflict across India has compelled deeper reflection. The recent incidents of killings in central India—particularly in Chhattisgarh—are not isolated acts. They point to a larger and ongoing crisis that concerns the health of democracy and the treatment of marginalised communities.

'Bengali Muslim migrant workers face crackdown in Gurgaon': Academic raises alarm

By A Representative   Political analyst and retired Delhi University professor Shamsul Islam has raised serious concerns over the ongoing targeting and detention of Muslim migrant workers from West Bengal in Gurgaon, Haryana. In a public statement, Islam described the situation as "brutal repression" and accused law enforcement agencies of detaining migrants arbitrarily under the pretext of verifying their citizenship.

Gender violence defies stringent laws: The need for robust social capital

By Dr. Manoj Kumar Mishra*  The tragic death of Miss Soumyashree Bisi, a 20-year-old student from Fakir Mohan College, Balasore, who reportedly self-immolated due to harassment, shocked the conscience of Odisha. Even before the public could process this horrifying event, another harrowing case emerged—a 15-year-old girl from Balanga, Puri, was allegedly set ablaze by miscreants. These incidents are not isolated; they highlight a disturbing pattern of rising gender-based violence across the state and the country.

The GMO illusion: Three decades of hype, harm, and false hope

By Sridhar Radhakrishnan  Three decades of hype, billions of dollars spent, and still no miracle crop. It's time to abandon the GMO biotech fairy tale and return to the soil, the seed, and the farmer. “Trust us,” they said. “GMOs will feed the world.” Picture a world where there is plenty of food, no hunger, fields grow without chemical pesticides, children are saved from malnutrition, and people live healthily.

The myth of population decline: India’s real challenge is density, not fertility

By N.S. Venkataraman*   India’s population in 2025 stands at approximately 1.4 billion. In 1950, it was 359 million, rising sharply to 1.05 billion by 2000. The population continues to grow and is projected to reach around 1.7 billion by 2050.

How natural and organic farming can be a key to combating the climate crisis

By Raj Kumar Sinha*  On July 9, while addressing the “Sahkar Samvad” in Ahmedabad with women and workers associated with cooperatives from Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan, Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasized that natural farming is essential for both our health and the health of the soil. This is a significant statement in the context of addressing the climate change crisis. Natural farming can play a crucial role in combating climate change. Also known as organic farming, it is a system of agriculture that can increase food production without harming the environment. Natural farming has the potential to reduce carbon emissions by 35% to 50%.

Indigenous Karen activist calls for global solidarity amid continued struggles in Burma

By A Representative   At the International Festival for People’s Rights and Struggles (IFPRS), Naw Paw Pree, an Indigenous Karen activist from the Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG), shared her experiences of oppression, resilience, and hope. Organized with the support of the International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL), the event brought together Indigenous and marginalized communities from across the globe, offering a rare safe space for shared learning, solidarity, and expression.