Speaking in the state Assembly Modi criticised opposition parties for opposing the setting up of asbestos manufacturing plants in Chainpur-Bishunpur village in Muzaffarpur district and similar units in four other places in the state.

He said that there is no harmful substance in use of asbestos products as being claimed by the opposition parties. The proposed asbestos factory in Chainpur-Bishunpur village and four other units elsewhere in Bihar were allowed to go ahead with construction works only after the clearance by the Central Pollution Control Board, he said.

The deputy chief minister claimed that even the Centre has confirmed that there was no harmful substances in asbestos products in reply to questions by the MPs in this regard.

Earlier, the Leader of Opposition, Abdul Bari Siddique, sought a ban on the proposed asbestos units. When on Monday Siddiqui had said that 55 countries had banned asbestos Modi had intervened to ask whether India is one of them or not.

Siddiqui on Tuesday quoted reports of World Health Organization to substantiate his point that the dust from these products could cause cancer and other deadly diseases.

It needs to be mentioned here that more than the opposition parties it is the NGOs and local farmers who have ganged up against the government’s move to open a number of plant in Bihar. Ban Asbestos Network of India has been in the forefront of struggle against asbestos plant since last year May. A few weeks back police had to resort to firing and lathicharge in Chainpur-Bishunpur when farmers protested against the setting up the plant. Eight people got injuries in that incident.

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