Enquiry on alleged Environmental and Human rights violations by MALCO and Chemplast Sanmar at Mettur, Tamil Nadu http://www.iptindia.org/main/ipt.asp?Page=Report&Report=34 Justice Akbar Basha Kadri (Retd. Judge, Madras High Court)
May 2005 Tribunal Members Justice Akbar Basha Kadri, (Retd. Judge Madras High Court) Dr. PA Azeez, (Environmental expert), Vijay Kanhere (Occupational Health expert) Professor Fatima Babu (Social activist) Inquiry On the complaints received from various concerned environmental groups and citizens of Mettur, in Southern India on the environmental and human right violations by the Industries, the Indian People's Tribunal visited the area and interacted with the affected communities on 29th and 30th of April and on 1st of May. The panel, under the chairmanship of Hon'ble Justice. Akbar Basha Kadri, (Retd. Judge Madras High Court) also included Dr. PA Azeez, (environmental expert), Vijay Kanhere (Occupational Health expert) and Professor Fatima Babu (Social activist). Tribunal members visited the sites contaminated by the PVC plants owned by the Chemplast Sanmar Ltd. and the MALCO Industries. The sites visited included the Chemplast's effluent release point into the Kaveri river, lands rendered barren and polluted due to chemical pollution and abandoned wells with water having strong chemical odour, Hazardous Red-mud storage area located precariously close to the Stanley Reservoir, and also the irresponsible handling dumping of highly toxic hazardous wastes from the Chemplast facilities into open pits with no properly secured linings. On the second day the Panel accepted the depositions from the affected people at Govt. School, Kunjandiyoor, and at PN Patti special Village Panchayat office. On the third day the panel conducted public hearings at Konur Village, Mettur, and at the Samathuvapuram community hall. OBSERVATIONS ON ENVIRONMENTAL & HUMAN RIGHT VIOLATIONS Hundreds of people turned up to depose before the panel at all the public hearing venues. The overwhelming response by the people of Mettur itself testified the gravity of the state of affairs. However the Industry management was uncooperative throughout, and even tried to physically prevent the panel accessing the hazardous sites. All the basic needs of life such as air water and food resources were severely contaminated by the industrial pollution, indicating that the Industrial establishments of the area have been involved in serious violations of basic environmental and human rights of the local population. Most of the deponents had agonising experiences to share with the IPT panel. The plight of the earlier workers in the hazardous areas of the Chemplast plant was pathetic. The concerned authorities displayed a callous approach to public health and occupational health issues. The chemical pollution by the Industry has had devastating impacts on their employees and the common people of Mettur. The tribunal witnessed several affected people speaking out courageously against company officials and district authorities. The case of Mr. Sadayan Gounder, an ex-worker of the Mercury house was indeed demonstrative of the severe conditions in the area – deposing before the tribunal, he demonstrated how extreme pollution had led to severely deformed limbs, dermatitis, nervous disorders and infertility.
