With the detection of five more patients, the total number of active silicosis patients in West Burdwan district has now touched double digits and it is likely to further increase.
IISCO Steel Plant (photo:Facebook)
With the detection of five more patients, the total number of active silicosis patients in West Burdwan district has now touched double digits and it is likely to further increase.
For the first time, a silicosis awareness workshop was held at Asansol of West Burdwan district along with public sector units like Sail’s IISCO Steel Plant and Durgapur Steel Plant, Damodar Valley Corporation, private sector sponge iron factories, refractories, brickfields etc. The workshop was organised by West Burdwan district magistrate S Ponnambalam.
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The workshop details of the silicosis disease has been discussed in details like how it occurs, what are symptoms, prevention measures, treatment etc.
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The CMOH of West Burdwan, members of West Bengal Pollution Control Board, other health officials, ADM and other district officials were also present during the workshop.
Recently, Subol Roy of Barabhui village, under Alladih gram panchayat of Salanpur Block has died due to silicosis. The National Human Rights Commission had sought a detailed report from the DM of West Burdwan on silicosis at Barabhui village recently.
The MLA of Asansol South, Agnimitra Paul has also started agitation on this issue very recently.
The district civil administration and the health department started taking measures and first organised a local medical health check-up camp and later a medical board at Asansol.
Five patients were detected of silicosis out of 20 people by the previous board. The family of the deceased has been assured of all government benefits.
Several hundreds of people work in the hazardous silicon and stone-crushing units in Salanpur block of West Burdwan and are suffering from breathing and lung diseases.
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