Steel plants in West Bengal are blatantly "flouting environmental norms" by polluting land, water and air, according to a green rating survey. New Delhi-based research body Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) studied 21 large steelmakers, 16 of which are from the eastern part of the country, to find out how green and clean the sector is.

"West Bengal accounts for three of these, and all three have fared miserably in the rating," said Chandra Bhushan, CSE's deputy director general and the head of the project. The report was released here on Friday by state Environment Minister Sudarshan Ghosh Dastidar.

New Delhi: Authorities now face a jail term of five years for hazardous cleaning of septic tanks and sewers.

South Africa's leading gold miners are facing a potential lawsuit on behalf of thousands of workers who claim they contracted silicosis, a lung disease, through the companies' negligence.

In the wake of references being made to investigate the health issues of mine workers, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) proposes to establish a statutory authority.

Cancer, tuberculosis, silicosis, diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders and pulmonary function impairment such as asthma affect mine workers. The proposed authority will coordinate with the Ministries and authorities concerned for taking administrative, legal and medical action.

Indian industry has one foot mired in outdated and unsustainable practices, while its other foot is poised for a leap forward.

Shillong: The Shillong bench of Gauhati High Court has sought a report from the state government on the recent coal mine tragedy in Garo Hills and also on the steps taken to ensure safety of miners in the State.

Accepting a suo-moto PIL on the coal mine mishap, which reportedly claimed 15 lives, the bench directed the state government to submit the report in the form of affidavit by August 28.

The sanitation workers of Dehradun have become prone to health hazards as the practice of wearing masks and gloves is still not prevalent among them.

The National Human Rights Commission has come down heavily on the Jharkhand government on the 22 documented silicosis deaths in the state, asking the Chief Secretary to explain why the families of

Calcutta, June 27: The Mamata Banerjee government will soon launch a drive to find out the number of people involved in manual scavenging and offer them alternatives, the move coming days after the