The Rajasthan State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has asked the government to take a fresh look at the Mines Act, 1952 to contain the alarming spread of occupational diseases and effectively deal

Fifty six mine labourers had died of silicosis disease in Rajasthan last year, the state assembly was informed today.

Jamshedpur: With more than 20 fresh cases of silicosis having surfaced in East Singhbhum, the chorus for revisiting the State Action Plan For Prevention and Mitigation of Silicosis has only got lou

JAIPUR: Call it a mere coincidence or another feather in the state's cap, but Rajasthan, one of the states plagued most by mining, has quietly thrown up a unique model to compensate mine workers af

DPCC also asked to to report on the technology being used for marble cutting

The National Green Tribunal today directed the Delhi Pollution Control Committee to carry out inspection in a northwest Delhi area and file a report on establishments engaged in marble cutting in residential areas. It also asked the DPCC to report on the technology being used for marble cutting while stressing on precautions.

JAIPUR: The United Nations (UN) Human Rights report - 2012 gives an account of the unhealthy and exploitative conditions of mine workers in the state. Published by the working group on Human Rights in India and the UN (WGHR) for India's review at UN suggests that minimal wages, poor working conditions and lack of training are rampant in the mining sector in the state.

In its study WGHR found that more than 95% of mining activities in the state fall in the domain of unorganized sector. Out of the total miners almost 37% are women and most of them are dalits or tribals. The most concerning revelation is about the health status of the mineworkers.

A former employee of the Bharath Gold Mines Limited (BGML), Panir Selvan, 57, was the latest to succumb to the deadly disease, silicosis, when he died on Friday at the Kolar Gold Fields (KGF).

Rumours that waste from Koodankulam nuclear power plant near Chennai will be dumped at the gold mine pits here has sent shock waves in this town.

It is said that Solicitor General R Nariman submitted an affidavit to the Supreme Court on Wednesday that the Central government has decided to use the pits at the KGF gold mines, which have long remained unused, as dumping yard for the waste created at the nuclear power plant at Koodankulam.

Nariman had added in the affidavit that the pits would be dug again, and concrete walls built on the sides of the tunnels to prevent leak of the nuclear rays

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.

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