Kolaghat's (in Midnapore, West BengaD 1.260 MIN thermal power project has been the bane of thousands who have been struck by silicosis due to flyash generated by the project; silicosis is caused by sustained exposure toactive silica' floating around in very fine dust form, which lodges itself in the respiratory tract.

Out of the 40.5 million tonnes (mi of flyash generated in West Bengal, Kolaghat accounts for 30 mt. Extensive damage to soil, crops, aqua-life and flowers has been reported. Besides. almost 200 families living in the nearby Aror village have been forced to give up their livelihoods.

The state government has persisted in demonstrating an appalling indifference to the problem. A government sponsored report quoting a scientist says the use of flyash as an additive in soil is actually good for it. But environmentalist Subrata Sinha says, 7Ftyash is so fine-grained, it can get anywhere. Once you put it in the soil, it f ills up the pores in the natural soil, preventing air passage, killing subterranean life. And once it receives water, it becomes Impervious and after a while, solid, like cement, totally devastating agriculture."

Another victim of the left front government's apathy are the 100 odd families Who Were displaced due to the project and 'resettled' in Sbrikrishnapur, without the basic minimum civic amenities or the power for which they were rendered tromeless; they still await justice.