Deccan Chronicle: Kollam: Saturday, April 12, 2014.
The Kerala Minerals and Metals Ltd that has been
polluting the Chittoor village with its toxic output is liable to pay
compensation to the residents under the provisions of the Public Liability Act,
according to the information gathered
under the RTI. Around 850 families living in some 150 acres of land
surrounding the KMML have not been paid
any compensation for at least a decade.
The Public Liability Act stipulates providing
compensation to the victims of an accident which occurs as a result of handling
any hazardous substance.
The Act applies to all units associated with the
production or handling of any hazardous chemicals. The company, however, has
paid a premium of Rs 3,41,847 for the public liability insurance policy under
the Kerala state insurance department, according to the RTI information.
Many residents in the village were diagnosed with
cancer, lung-related diseases and allergies owing to dispersal of titanium
dioxide violating environmental laws. The ‘Chittoor package’ providing rehabilitation along with
compensation remains on paper with the
residents protesting in the streets.
Neethu Aravind, chief coordinator, People for
Better Kollam, said, “The KMML authorities have been denying compensation for
the residents under the Public Liability Act. The government is also not
concerned about the residents. The
farmers in the area are desperate with their agriculture affected by the toxic
soil. We plan to conduct further protests to avoid tragedies like Bhopal and that occurred due to endosulfan,”
he said.
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