Living in the "black" shadow of Union Carbide

Residents of Tirumalanagar Colony, are forced to keep their doors and windows closed throughout the day, even in Hyderabadi scorching summer.

Housewives mop the floor at least once every hour. Despite staying indoors the whole day, their feet are ebony black and the plants in their balconies are bathed in black dust.

Such unusual happenings here are not without reason. Microfine, black particles of soot (carbon) blowing into their houses is what drives them indoors, thanks to the Union Carbide factory which freely lets out this soot into the air.

The Hyderabad Urban Development Authority (HUDA) approved Tirumalanagar colony is situated just adjacent to the Union Carbide’s Eveready Batteries Limited. Smoke from the factory reaches most of the houses in the colony and as a result the soot settles down at every possible place in and around the house.

According to the people living near the factory, the situation is alarming. “It is months since we have enjoyed fresh air and the smoke suffocates us. Even the clothes left outside to dry become black in minutes,” says a livid Nambiar, a resident of the colony.

Adds Chandra Mouli, another resident: “I have stopped washing my clothes at home. Instead, I have started giving it for dry cleaning, because with an ordinary wash, one cannot get rid of the dust that settles on the clothes.”

Mrs Swamy Babu, says that this summer her mango pickle (which is prepared by drying in the sun) for a change is black in colour, instead of being red.

The carbon dust is so fine that even closed doors and windows cannot prevent them from entering the house. They can easily penetrate through the gap between the window and the sill. Of late, many residents have noticed frequent sneezing, burning sensation in the eyes apart from nausea.

Such problems apart, the smoke, according to most of the residents is definitely affecting their health. K Rajeevan of CIEFL who has been staying in this locality for the past two years says that his five-year-old daughter developed allergic bronchitis after they came here. Though there is no proof to conclude that it is because of the smoke, Rajeevan thinks that there is no reason why it cannot be a reason for his daughter’s allergy.

Similar is the case of Shyamala who shifted over to a flat very close to the factory a fortnight ago. She found that the phlegm she developed because of cough and cold had a slight blackish tinge. She did not notice any such thing when she had a bout of cough and cold last time.

In April 1996, the residents approached the Union Carbide factory to apprise them of the colony’s problem. Though the then official concerned ensured quick action, nothing happened. Again, in August, the irate residents protested against the factory by submitting a memorandum containing 225 signatures. The problem only got worse. Only repeated attempts could yield the official version. An official who refused to divulge his name agreed that the technology they are using may be outdated but attempts are being made to reduce the problem of carbon soot.

According to him, there are just 4-5 battery making units in India and therefore immediate availability of technology and equipment is not very easy.

Therefore, any problem that arises in these units will take time before it is solved, owing to lack of skilled manpower in dealing with such problems.

Installing an incinerator could prove to be useful in combating pollution. An incinerator actually burns down the waste and other affluent particles to tiny ones, thus preventing them from spreading. But this prevention is what does not seem to be done efficiently and as a result, the tiny carbon particles escape out. And the colony residents seem to bear the brunt.

The official’s explanation in this regard is that a team from Calcutta (Head office) has reviewed the situation. “About 90 per cent of work is done.

Once the labour problem (of roping in the experts from Calcutta) is resolved and when the remaining work is done, the problem will be solved. This may take a week or so”, he added. All said and done, he reiterates that “everything takes time”.

Dr Shatavahana Chowdary of Apollo Hospital said that though carbon cannot be classified as an allergin, it can cause chemical reactions which resemble respiratory problems. It is noxious enough to cause immediate choking by reducing oxygen content in the lungs, thus hindering the purification process in the body. The best part came from the Pollution Control Board.

When contacted, an engineer wanted to know where the factory is located and what it makes.