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Patna,(BiharTimes): Though Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said on Monday that “there was no ban on setting up asbestos factories in India” yet he added that in view of the opposition to the factory in Chainpur in Muzaffarpur, further proposals submitted by the State Investment Promotion Board (SIPB) had been withheld by the government.
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Talking to media after the Janata Durbar, he said it was the SIPB, which normally reviews such projects and the government’s role is limited to repudiating the rebate granted to such industries, if popular agitation so demanded.
It needs to be recalled that local villagers have been up in arms against the Rs 31-crore asbestos plant proposed to be set up by the Kolkata-based Balmukund Cement and Roofing Ltd (BCRL) since May 2010. Nine Left parties and several non-government organizations, such as Ban Asbestos Network of India have staged sit-ins forcing the government to order the immediate stoppage of work. There are several more proposals for the asbestos plant in queue in the state.
Villagers argue that the 17.8 acres acquired by the factory is cultivable, fertile land with three primary schools and health centres around it.
However, the chief minister said that in case there is an issue of land dispute, the matter would certainly be looked into. There should be a debate on the matter. He asked the agitators to take a balanced view on the issue. He informed that the deputed police force had been called back and further police action had been curtailed.
The Convener of the Ban Asbestos Network of India (BANI). Gopal Krishna, said that while the Centre has been phasing out the use of asbestos in a piecemeal manner, Bihar should have set a precedent in this case by imposing a total ban. The issue is of the health of the people of the State, and not of industry.
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