The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), acting on directives from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), has instructed the Member Secretary of the West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) to submit a report on the rising cases of silicosis in the industrial belt of Asansol under West Burdwan district.

Reports indicate there has been no regular health check-up of workers employed in silica manufacturing units in Salanpur Block, while pollution levels continue to worsen.

Hundreds of residents of Barabhui village in Salanpur are reported to be suffering from silicosis. Following intervention by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) of West Burdwan sent a medical team to the village and set up a medical board to identify patients at Asansol District Hospital.

The NHRC had acted on a complaint filed by activist Amarnath Mahato and directed district magistrate S Ponnambalam to investigate the matter and submit reports to New Delhi. An ADM was sent to the site, followed by a series of review meetings.

Meanwhile, two more silicosis patients have died. So far, at least four to five people in Salanpur have lost their lives to the disease. One victim, misdiagnosed earlier, was later correctly identified at a private super-speciality hospital in Chennai and treated in Durgapur before succumbing.