Once touted as a symbol of West Bengal's industrial resurgence, the mini sponge iron plants in Durgapur and adjoining panchayat areas of Burdwan district are now being blamed for pushing the region "closer to a major industrial disaster'. Most of these plants, which blithely disregard pollution control and labour laws, have wreaked havoc on the environment, agricultural economy and the health and quality of life of the local people (see Down To Earth,