August 23, 2010 U Bharath Expressbuzz A public hearing on the proposal to set up a distillery unit in Vadasery took a violent turn as rival groups clashed with each other on April 9. Thousands of residents had gathered outside the Kings India Chemicals Corporation (allegedly owned by T R B Rajkumar, son […]
Cuddalore, 12 August 2010: 56 year old P. Sundari, a worker at Pondicherry Alum and Chemicals Ltd, is reported to have died in an accident within the factory premises on 8th August 2010. According to sources Sundari died on the spot due to head injury after she fell down from the steps inside the factory. […]
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 Limiteds (HLL) erstwhile mercury plant in Kodaikanal. Christopher died in 1997 due to kidney failure at the age of 33 and his […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]