Media Stories

DMK men’s show of strength in Kodungaiyur

August 23, 2010 Sangeetha Neeraja Expressbuzz   Residents of Kodungaiyur left with more than just a bitter aftertaste from a kalyana mandapam in Washermanpet on June 18 this year.   Perhaps, it had something to do with the lesson in party politics that they were forced to sit through.   The public hearing on the […]

Truth is the real victim

July 19, 2010 Gokul Chandrasekar Expressbuzz   Even while the Madras High Court was hearing the prayers of the ex-workers in 2006 and considering setting up of a committee to assess health damages, Hindustan Lever Ltd (HLL) sought expert opinions from three premier national institutions – Industrial Toxicology Research Centre (ITRC), All India Institute of […]

Is your garam masala safe from mercury?

July 19, 2010 Gokul Chandrasekar Expressbuzz   Paliya tribes living in and around Kodaikanal are allegedly facing health problems attributable to mercury pollution, according to an NGO working with tribals in the region. However, no study has been conducted till date to validate these claims as the tribal group continues to stay away from modern […]

Waiting in vain for compensation

July 19, 2010 Gokul Chandrasekar Expressbuzz   Ruby Martine (80) walks to the graveyard every Wednesday to offer flowers at the grave of her son Christopher Martine, who worked at the Hindustan Lever Limited’s (HLL) erstwhile mercury plant in Kodaikanal. Christopher died in 1997 due to kidney failure at the age of 33 and his […]

Unwanted gift of quicksilver to Kodaikanal

21 June 2010 Gokul Chandrasekar Express News Service   THE issue of mercury leak in the eco-sensitive Pambar Shola forest in Kodaikanal from Hindustan Lever’s thermometer factory was first brought to notice in 2001 by factory workers and environmental groups.   The company later admitted on record to have discharged more than 1.3 tons of […]

Current cleanup can’t protect Pambar Shola

21 June 2010 Gokul Chandrasekar Express News Service   A site-specific target level of 25mg/kg for cleanup of mercury in Kodaikanal is grossly inadequate to save the eco-sensitive Pambar Shola forest, according to Mark Chernaik, toxicologist and staff scientist at the US-based ‘environment law alliance worldwide’. Chernaik made the remark after conducting a critical assessment […]

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