Pollution scare on school-Seven blind students complain of eye infection

Moran(India): For the third time this winter, seven children of Moran Blind School complained of a severe eye infection, accompanied by headaches and fever. A series of tests later, the possible culprit turned out to be — not a virus — but a stone-crushing unit near the school.Alarmed by the recurring infections, the authorities of Jaanamangal Adarsha Andha Bidyalaya, popularly known as Moran Blind School, organised a special medical check-up camp last week for all the wards. A team of doctors and paramedics, led by Dr N. Kalita, the deputy superintendent of the Tiloi community health centre, was dispatched by the office of the joint director of health services, Dibrugarh, to conduct the check-up.“Most of the students are suffering from various airborne diseases which may be because of the pollution in the area. We have prescribed medicines. But if medicines do not work, we may have to refer them for specialised treatment,” Kalita said. Located on the outskirts of Moran town on National Highway 37, the school is just a few feet away from the stone crushing unit, set up on an industrial estate plot owned by the state government.Ever since it became operational last October, the crushing machines run almost round the clock, depending on the availability of electricity. “Since the school is a residential one, noise and dust pollution has become a major concern for not only our school but also the two other schools in the locality,” Pradip Bhatta, the secretary of the governing trust of the school, said.The two other schools affected by the unit are Gyan Banti Middle English School and Phatikachua Chakalia Lower Primary School.Moran Blind School, started by Maj. S.N. Banerjee in 1971, now has 45 students, including 18 girls. Now, his son, actor Victor Banerjee is the chairman of the managing trust and is a frequent visitor to the school.Bhatta said the school has requested industries minister Pradyut Bordoloi to intervene and accordingly, the department cancelled the lease granted to Hira Industries that owns the stone crushing unit.“We have already filed an affidavit in court in this regard stating that the unit is causing inconvenience to students of the blind school. Hopefully, the matter will be resolved soon,” the minister said. The owner of the unit, Mrinmoy Chetia, said he has moved court against cancellation of the lease and an injunction has been obtained till the case is finally disposed of.He said he had all the necessary clearances and would continue to run his business.“However, if the government allots me another plot of land somewhere else which is fit to re-locate the unit, I am ready to shift. It is very unfortunate that the school management preferred to pile political pressure on me instead of discussing the matter for an amicable settlement,” Chetia said.

[http://www.telegraphindia.com, February 25, 2009]