Tuesday, January 11, 2011

WEST BENGAL CM SHOCKS ANTI-ASBESTOS CAMPAIGNERS

In a shocking incident, West Bengal Chief Minister, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee gave the Environment Excellence Award to Utkal Asbestos Ltd (UAL). In the picture one can see Arun Saraf, Managing Director of the company taking the award from the Chief Minister.

The company was ranked first and has been awarded by West Bengal Cleaner Production Centre, a collaborative effort of West Bengal Polution Control Board and Indian Chamber of Commerce. THe company has a factory unit at Konark Nagar, Tungadhowa, Mohim Nischinta, Paschim Medinipur.

In about 20 years, UAL Industries Ltd., formarly Utkal Asbestos Limited has shown growth in the Asbestos Roofing industry. It is now the leading company with largest market share in the Eastern India.

Its products are sold under the brand name "KONARK". The company's goal is to occupy the field of Asbestos Cement Roofing Sheets and accessories. Its sister concern, Neelachal Natural Resource Pvt. Ltd is also in asbestos business.

UAL's unit situated at Guptamani, Tungadowa, district Midnapore (W), West Bengal. The company has also created a township for its employees at its ‘Tungadhowa Works'. UAL-Bengal a sister concern of Utkal Industries Ltd.

Ban Asbestos Network of India (BANI) which is working as a National Alliance for Asbestos Free India and Asbestos Mukti Andolan has written to the Chief Minister urging him to ban the use and manufacturing of asbestos of all kinds.

Besides UAL, Visaka Industries has asbestos plants located in Midnapore. Although Centre of Indian Trade Union and All India Trade Union Congress have called for ban on asbestos and have also written to the Prime Minister, the fact remains, that the Communist Party of India (Marxist) led West Bengal government has not gotten rid of it from its own backyard.