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Mangalore: Docs' Team Visit UPCL Vicinity - States Health Hazard in 20-km Radius from Plant

  •   Tue, Mar 29 2011 02:27:30 PM

Mangalore: Docs' Team Visit UPCL Vicinity - States Health Hazard in 20-km Radius from Plant  

Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (PS/SB)

Mangalore, Mar 29: At a press conference held on Tuesday March 29, Dr K Mohandas Bhandary, state working committee member of Indian Medical Association, Karnataka state branch (also former president of IMA, Mangalore branch) said that himself with the team comprising IMA doctors and public health specialties including Dr S Jayaram, Dr M Annayya Kulal, Dr Sanjeev Badiger and Dr Nitin Joseph carried out a sudden visit to identify health related issues arising due to faulty functioning of UPCL plant by onsite inspection in response to public outcry on Sunday March 27.

Visiting 30 houses in the vicinity the team detected that people residing in 20-km radius from the plant have reported a number of health ailments causing cough, wheezing and breathlessness, he said. Illustrating further about the ground reality, he said the team observed UPCL has not laid down pipeline for shifting ash, instead it ferries it to the pond by means of tankers and poorly constructed pond has caused water seepage into the surrounding areas causing extensive soil and water contamination.

The team also observed that the escape routes of slurry laid down by UPCL to ease out pressure is used by local residents for storing water meant for personal and agricultural purposes. Hence this cannot be used by the public.

The team observed fly ash particles and salt over the rooftop sheets and vegetation in house premises situated close to the plant. This has resulted in corrosion of tin sheets covering the roofs of these houses and of electrical cable covers as well. People also reported a decline in arecanut yield, destruction of banana plantation, flowers, poor growth of grass and hence minimal fodder for cows following the functioning of this plant. The environmental and health hazards are mainly due to inadequate supervision and monitoring of fly ash transportation.

The people residing here also reported health ailments like breathlessness including asthma and a number of skin ailments which may at a later date result in skin and respiratory cancers.

The team also said that they will submit their observations to the concerned and recommend IMA to conduct a health campaign in future. The team said the visit was an initiation of like-minded people as it becomes the duty of doctors to ensure healthy society.

Dr Bhandary said that they will submit their report the union environment minister, prime minister, chief minister, district-in-charge minister, and other ministers concerned.
  

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Comment on this article

  • Raj, USA

    Wed, Mar 30 2011

    Health Hazard in 20-km Radius from UPCL plant that includes, mukka, surathkal, kulai (Raheja towers located) will be affected. Good luck to investors or residents of this waterfront project.

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  • ISMAIL K PERINJE, PERINJE/YANBU-KSA

    Wed, Mar 30 2011

    DOC VS Acharya has more responsibilty to answer publics in this matter.Being Mannina Maga of said place, need to make eloberate arrangements to tackle these health related issues.Scrapping the project @ this stage is not advised.Therefore UPCL need to rectify these serious health related shortcomings ASAP.

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  • Shashi Shetty, Santhoor/Manipal

    Tue, Mar 29 2011

    Our Doctors have shown an example that, it is duty of every citizens to protect the environment and general health of Human race. Time has come now to have a commitee of people from all walks of life including doctors, farmers, teachers, techis, workers skilled and non skilled to monitor these projects. There is definetly a way for inclusive development of our planet if these corporates and politicians care for each and everyone instead of looking at filling their own pockets. Even you can see a project like UPCL is not completed properly as per the norms.. that means the project funds are diverted and everything is shown on papers is good whihc is actually not good. They hoodwink our fellow citizens who are little bit far away from project and not directly effected that, this is the project for the power .. and the protestors are anti development. This is just playing with the emotion of people and this our politicians have learnt so well be it religion, industry or scams. Project for first instance which should have implemented anywhere near coastal region of western ghats now muct be monitored well if it have to run properly without doing a irreversible damage. we are actually playing with the fire... I wish some sanity is prevailed.

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  • MARTIN, mangalore /dubai

    Tue, Mar 29 2011

    being doctor and local dr V S ACHARYA ? A MINISTER OR DOCTOR ? DOCTOR... MAN SERVICE IS FIRST!!! PLEASE TAKE CARE OUR PEOPLE!!! I AM AFRAID !!! WILL IT BECOME SECOND JAPAN? NEGLIGENCE!!!!

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  • satish, kudla

    Tue, Mar 29 2011

    Do any one know which government /minister gave permission for such an outdated polution company.

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  • Stany Dsouza, Shirva

    Tue, Mar 29 2011

    Thank you doctors for your great job.

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  • praveen, mangalore

    Tue, Mar 29 2011

    observation of 20 km radius means that includes,mulky,haleyangady, mukka, surathkal, padubidri, kapu, kinnigoli ,kateel karkala and moodabidri areas.people should not buy any land or buidings or stay in these areas if they want to protect themselves.time to shift to mangalore city.

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  • diwakar shetty, mangalore/mulki

    Tue, Mar 29 2011

    Sir, what about NMPT,BASF and MCF ? Do you have any idea of pollution..please visit iur area, even fish in the well water had died and no good water for us ! Why Mangalore politicians are giving permission for foreign companies to produce poison ? why can"t they do it in their own land and country ? why w why why ? can anyone answer ? Do you know the harm to our environment and people here. I think our future is more disease, death and suffering !!!

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  • oswald & Teresa Pais, Bendur Parish

    Tue, Mar 29 2011

    Hello Dr.Bhandary,
    Well done & your work towards the the welfare of the people will be rewarded ten folds.We are proud of you & your team by conducting the check-up for health hazards.keep up the spirit & we are with you all.Oswald Pais(Rotary Club of mangalore central)

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  • Alwyn, Mangalore - USA

    Tue, Mar 29 2011

    Indian Political Leaders are at the most and first culprits to destroy India. These people always put evil thoughts in citizens and take advantage for their own. If we watch how these are gaining power and the way they are administrating is horrible. They must learn and adopt at least some basic principals in their life. Our political leaders must have some sort of education and they need some training too. Like wise any candidate who is contesting from Mangalore must have some basic knowledge of Agriculture, Fisheries, Religious practice of different faith, and scarcity of present requirements. If the elected person is NOT aware of these things how we can expect the good result???? Political leaders must work for the Nation's development not for the religion this too they must remember.

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  • Jawar D'Souza, M'lore/DOha

    Tue, Mar 29 2011

    This is only the initial stage its 20 kms after 3to 4 year's it will spread upto 100 kms may be. Why should permission given without proper metod of functioning and creating a disaster around. I think we will wake up only when a disaster like Bhopal strikes and after a few months forget it. Nothing will happen some bribes will be given here and there and matter will be pushed under the carpet.

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  • Alwyn, canada

    Tue, Mar 29 2011

    great job. Thank you to these society lovers who realy cares for people. We need more such good hearted people to serve the society and kick these polluted industry out from Mangalore. Anotehr is MRPL

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  • geoffrey, hathill

    Tue, Mar 29 2011

    In any other developed country a callous company like this would've been forced to pull the shutter down and made to pay for the damages.

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  • Shashi Shetty, Santhoor/Manipal

    Tue, Mar 29 2011

    Thanks doctors, you have atleast supported the struggle of the effected people orelse this company and politicians would have wished us bunch of extremist stopping the growth. There is another issue which is also of greater cuase and it shall be beyond 20kms radius. The UPCL is pumping direct sea water into the boiler... (the seawater with the salinity anywhere between 23 to 35ppt must be desalinated before bringing into mainland and this is a law of the land.) The escaped saline steam (it is huge amount and we can see it from as far as Suratkal and Kundapur) deposits the salt cristal all over when the steam gets cooled in the environment... this salt paricals along with the water molecules are free flowing in the environment and can be blown in to anywhere the wind carrys.. this shall cause lots of material damage in terms of corrosion as well health problems. Unless UPCL address 3 main issues 1. conveying coal in the closed conveyor to the site and storing it properly, 2. installing desalinator for seawater use, 3. building a proper ash pond (not on water body.. it must be either cemented or thick layer of fiber sheet must be put under to avoid seepageinto ground and conveying the fly ash in the proper closed pipe.. the project should not be allowed to start. this is good for everyone and our flora and fauna. If not our paradise will look like war torn desert in next 5 years.

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  • Soumya, Mangalore

    Tue, Mar 29 2011

    Great Job Doctors. Wish UPCL and the concerned authorities take suitable actions before more damage is done.

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  • Reny Fernandes, Mudarangadi

    Tue, Mar 29 2011

    Great job you people have done to the society. At least some thing is moving. Thank you doctors.

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