District Judge, Aurangabad assaulted by a S.I. of Bihar Police

On October 21, 2020 an the unprecedented, unwarranted assault and intimidation occurred with  Dr. Dinesh Pradhan, District Judge, Aurangabad, Bihar by Bihar Police. Bihar Judicial Services Association and Association for Judges, Gujarat has condemned the incident.

Citizens Forum for Civil Liberties (CFCL) has taken note of the Letter of Condemnation dated October 31, 2020 in the matter of unprecedented and unwarranted assault on Dr. Dinesh Pradhan, District Judge, Aurangabad, Bihar on October 21, 2020 by S.I. Pranav of Bihar Police in reaction to action against him and a few other police officers by Judge Dr. Pradhan for dereliction of duty a few months back when he was the chief judicial magistrate, Aurangabad. 

CFCL has sought details of the letters/statements of Bihar Judicial Services Association including its  October 24 letter to DGP and letters/statements of All India Judges Association. It is also looking for a copy of the Aurangabad DM's order initiating an inquiry into the matter, written application against erring police personnel with Town Police Station prior to the incident and after the incident. It is not clear as yet whether Supreme Court or High Court has taken cognisance of the letters in this regard.  

Association of Judges have rightly said that "This is not an assault on and insult with Dr. Pradhan   only  but   is   assault   on   and   insult   of the whole subordinate Judiciary of the nation." Unless higher judiciary ensures stringent exemplary action, the day is not far when the spark will reach the judges of High Courts and Supreme Court. State Government is expected to act immediately against the erring policemen after the elections. 

Two urgent issues around Bihar Assembly Elections 2020

Issue 1: Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR)'s petition challenging Finance Act, 2017- Electoral Bonds and Removal of company's limit to donate

This petition challenges the Finance Act, 2017 which was enacted as a money bill which introduced the electoral bond scheme for the purpose of electoral funding. The Act has also removed the previous limit of 7.5% of the company’s average three-year net profit for political donations. A company is no longer required to name the political parties to which such contributions are made. The donors’ name is also not revealed to the public. These amendments will result in opaqueness, heighten the odds of conflict of interest and also drastically increase black money and corruption. It will also lead to the creation of shell companies and rise of benami transactions to channelize the undocumented money into the political and electoral process in India.

Previously, ADR had filed two applications (in March, 2019 and November, 2019) for grant of stay on the implementation of the Electoral Bond Scheme, 2018, notified by the Central Government on January 2, 2018.   

  Status  

1. ADR's petition was last heard by the Supreme Court on 20-01-2020 and hasn't been listed since then, i.e., for the last 9 months, even though very significant questions concerning democratic functioning of the country are raised in the instant matter which requires urgent adjudication. 
   
2. Right before the Bihar Legislative Elections, in the XIV Phase of sale,  the State Bank of India has been authorized to issue and encash Electoral Bonds through its 29 Authorized branches with effect from. 19.10.2020 to 28.10.2020.
3. Even though a notification, dated 02.01.2018, stipulates sale of electoral bonds in January, April, July and October months of each year; the window was not opened in April and July, but was opened in October'20, right before the Bihar Legislative Elections.
4.  ADR has moved to the Supreme Court amidst Bihar Assembly Elections 2020 seeking urgent hearing of its 2017 PIL challenging the 2018 Electoral Bonds Scheme.

Issue 2: Reasons for fielding candidates with criminal background

Supreme Court directions dated 13th February 2020 is as under:  

1) It is mandatory for political parties at the Central and State election level to upload on their website detailed information regarding candidates with pending criminal cases including the nature of the offences, relevant particulars like whether charges have been framed, the concerned Court, the case number etc.

2) Political parties will also have to give reasons for such selection and why other individuals without criminal antecedents could not be selected as candidates.

3) The reasons as to selection shall be with reference to the qualifications, achievements and merit of the candidate concerned, and not mere “winnability” at the polls. 

4) This information shall also be published in: (a)One local vernacular newspaper and one national newspaper; (b)On the official social media platforms of the political party, including Facebook & Twitter. 

5) These details shall be published within 48 hours of the selection of the candidate or not less than two weeks 4 before the first date for filing of nominations, whichever is earlier.

6)  A report of compliance shall be submitted by party with the Election Commission within 72 hours of the selection of the said candidate.  

7) Election Commission shall bring such non-compliance by the political party concerned to the notice of the Supreme Court as being in contempt of this Court’s orders/directions.  

Status (As on 29th Oct'20)

1. In the ongoing Bihar Legislative Elections, only four* political parties ( JDU, INC, CPI(M-L)L and RJD) out of 187, have listed the reasons for fielding candidates with criminal background.

2. Common reasons listed by these political parties are:

• Popularity
• Social worker
• Educational background
• Cases filed due to political vendetta by rival political parties
• Cases are old
• Good effort put in for handling Covid-19 crisis

3. Most of the political parties submitted the reasons post the deadline. 

4. Most of the reasons given by political parties are not rational and justified as clearly directed by the Supreme Court in its order dated 13th February 2020.

5. It is to be noted that out of 187 political parties participating in these elections, there are a large number of political parties which do not have a website.

Taking note of these facts, Maj Gen Anil Verma (Retd.), Head of ADR said, "In the Bihar Phases I & 2, political parties fielded 33% candidates and in the MP, UP & Gujarat Bye-elections around 18% candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves. This shows a complete disregard of the SC & ECI directions by the political parties. Such unfounded and baseless reasons given by political parties like popularity of the person, does good social work, cases are politically motivated etc. are not sound and cogent reasons for fielding candidates with tainted backgrounds. This data clearly shows that political parties have no interest in reforming the electoral system and our democracy will continue to suffer at the hands of lawbreakers who become lawmakers. To strengthen our democracy, the voters have to play a decisive role in refusing to elect tainted candidates and vote for NOTA".

Patna High Court suspends 4 Judicial Officers pending disciplinary proceedings against them

Patna High Court has issued orders dated 19 October and 20 October 2020 suspending four judicial officers in the light of disciplinary proceedings pending against them. The officers placed under suspension including 1) Savita Rani - Principal Magistrate, Juvenile Justice Board, Bhojpur at Ara (Civil Judge Senior Division), 2) Sanjeev Kumar Chandriyavi- Principal Magistrate, Juvenile Justice Board, Patna (Civil Judge Senior Division), 3) Tribhuwan Nath- ADJ, Sheohar and 4) Ram Sujan Pandey-Sub-Judge III-cum Secretary, DLSA, Sheohar,

As per the order dated 19 October, 2020, a disciplinary proceeding against Savita Rani, Principal Magistrate, Juvenile Justice Board, Bhojpur at Ara (Civil Judge Sr. Division) is pending. Now, therefore, the Court, in exercise of the powers conferred by Sub-rule (1) of Rule 9 of the Bihar Government Servants (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 2005, has placed Savita Rani, Principal Magistrate, Juvenile Justice Board, Bhojpur at Ara (Civil Judge Senior Division) under suspension with immediate effect and till the pendency of the enquiry or until further orders with her headquarters attached with the District Judgeship's at Ara (Bhojpur). It is further ordered that during the period that this order shall remain in force, the said, Savita Rani, Principal Magistrate, Juvenile Justice Board, Bhojpur at Ara (Civil Judge Senior Division) shall not leave the station without obtaining the previous permission. The officer shall be entitled to get subsistence allowance as per Rule 96 of the Bihar Service Code during the suspension period. 

As per the dated 19 October, 2020, a disciplinary proceeding against Sanjeev Kumar Chandriyavi, Principal Magistrate, Juvenile Justice Board, Patna (Civil Judge Senior. Division) is pending. Now, therefore, the Court, in exercise of the powers conferred by Sub-rule (1) of Rule 9 of the Bihar Government Servants (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 2005, places Sanjeev Kumar Chandriyavi, Principal Magistrate, Juvenile Justice Board, Patna (Civil Judge Senior Division) under suspension with immediate effect and till the pendency of the enquiry or until further orders with his headquarters attached with the District Judgeship's at Patna. It is further ordered that during the period that this order shall remain in force, the said, Sanjeev Kumar Chandriyavi, Principal Magistrate, Juvenile Justice Board, Patna (Civil Judge Senior Division) shall not leave the station without obtaining the previous permission. The officer shall be entitled to get subsistence allowance as per Rule 96 of the Bihar Service Code during the suspension period. 

As per order dated 20th October, 2020, a disciplinary proceeding against Tribhuwan Nath, ADJ, Sheohar is pending. Now, the Court, in exercise of the powers conferred by Sub-rule (1) of Rule 9 of the Bihar Government Servants (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 2005, has placed Tribhuwan Nath, ADJ, Sheohar under suspension with immediate effect and till the pendency of the enquiry or until further orders with his headquarters attached with the District Judgeship's at Sheohar. It is further ordered that during the period that this order shall remain in force, the said, Tribhuwan Nath, ADJ, Sheohar shall not leave the station without obtaining the previous permission. The officer shall be entitled to get subsistence allowance as per Rule 96 of the Bihar Service Code during the suspension period. 

As per order dated 20th October, 2020, a disciplinary proceeding against Ram Sujan Pandey, Sub-JudgeIII-cum Secretary, DLSA, Sheohar is pending. Now, the Court, in exercise of the powers conferred by Sub-rule (1) of Rule 9 of the Bihar Government Servants (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 2005, placed Ram Sujan Pandey, Sub-Judge-III-cum Secretary, DLSA, Sheohar under suspension with immediate effect and till the pendency of the enquiry or until further orders with his headquarters attached with the District Judgeship's at Sheohar. It is further ordered that during the period that this order shall remain in force, the said, Ram Sujan Pandey, Sub-Judge-HI-cum Secretary, DLSA, Sheohar shall not leave the station without obtaining the previous permission. The officer shall be entitled to get subsistence allowance as per Rule 96 of the Bihar Service Code during the suspension period. 

The Court exercised its powers under Rule 9 of the Bihar Government Servants (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 2005. The Rule empowers the “appointing authority” to suspend a government servant from service if disciplinary proceedings or criminal investigations have been initiated against them. An appointing authority may also suspend a government servant from service if the person has done an act prejudicial to the security of the state.

Bihar's District Survey Report on Sand Mining "quashed" and declared "void and a nullity"

Recent Chronology of Bihar Sand Mining case in National Green Tribunal (NGT) 

October 14, 2020: National Green Tribunal (NGT) uploaded its 89 page order wherein it held that Bihar's District Survey Report (DSR) 2018 "cannot be considered as a final DSR and is only an Interim report. (b) The DSR 2019 incorporating the 14 Sand Ghats also cannot be considered as a final DSR and is hereby quashed."

Under Clause 7 (III) (a) of the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006 under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 makes preparation of a District Survey Report (DSR) for sand mining or riverbed mining and mining of other minerals mandatory.   

NGT has also held that "All actions taken pursuant to DSR 2018 and DSR 2019" are "void and a nullity." 

NGT has directed that "the State to undertake further exercise for preparation of a fresh DSR for the Banka district," Bihar. 

NGT observes that as the District Level Impact Assessment Authority (DEIAA) is not functioning as a consequence of the decision of the NGT in Satendra Pandey v. Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change [MoEF&CC] (2018), the DSR shall be prepared through a consultant(s) accredited by the National Accreditation Board of Education and Training/ Quality Control Council of India in terms of O.M. of MoEF&CC dated March, 2010. 

NGT directed that "The DSR so prepared shall be submitted to the District Magistrate who shall verify the DSR only in respect of the relevant facts pertaining to the physical and geographical features of the district which shall be distinct from the scientific findings based on the parameters" prescribed in the Sustainable Sand Mining Management Guidelines (SSMMG), 2016. It further directed "After such verification, the District Magistrate shall forward the DSR for examination and evaluation by the State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC)" having regarding to the fact that the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) comprises of technical/scientific experts. It also directed that "The SEAC after appraisal of the report shall forward it to the SEIAA for consideration and approval if it meets all scientific/technical requirements." 

It directed that "While preparing the DSR, the MoEF&CC Accredited Agency/Consultant shall scrupulously follow the procedure and the parameters laid down under the Sustainable Sand Mining Management Guidelines (SSMMG), and Enforcement and Monitoring Guidelines for Sand Mining (EMGSM), 2020 read in sync with each other."

September 23, 2020: The Principal Bench of NGT heard a petition of Pawan Kumar of Banka through Video Conferencing. The petitioner had prayed for  proper sand mining in accordance with law and the regulatory framework including various decisions of the Tribunal, environmental laws, Notifications and Guidelines framed by the Central Government to safeguard the environment. The case was heard by Justice S. P. Wangdi, Judicial Member and Dr. Nagin Nanda, Expert Member. 

The petition had contended that there has been in partial compliance of the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006, the Sustainable Sand Mining Management Guidelines (SSMMG), 2016 nd the directions of NGT in the case of Anjani Kumar v. State of U.P. (2017). The petitioner pointed out that an Interim DSR for sand mining or riverbed mining and brick earth, was prepared for the Banka district in the year 2018. This was an Interim DSR which has never been finalized. The Applicant stated that the concluding paragraph of Interim DSR revealed 226 hectare as the total area of Sand Ghat having mineable mineral potential of 12,82,451.94 MT in River Chandan/Chanan and, approximately 109 ha with 6,17,576.4 MT mineable mineral potential in Cheer river that had been identified for sand mining in consultation with the concerned authorities before obtaining Environmental Clearance (EC) or other statutory clearances. 

This NGT verdict creates a compelling logic for quashing all District Survey Reports on Sand Mining and declaring all to be "void and a nullity" to safeguard river's ecosystem because there is been non-compliance with procedure and the parameters laid down under the Sustainable Sand Mining Management Guidelines (SSMMG), and Enforcement and Monitoring Guidelines for Sand Mining (EMGSM), 2020 especially in Sone river bed. Indiscriminate sand mining in Sone and Ganga is a cause of great worry in this region. Public Hearings by Bihar State Pollution Control Board is being advertised routinely for sand mining amidst covid lockdown and amidst electoral process.(Photo: Trucks carrying illegal sand in Koelwar-Sahar region of Sone river in Bhojpur, Bihar).

It is noteworthy that Supreme Court's order in Deepak Kumar v. State of Haryana (2012) 4 SCC 629 has been violated. NGT order in Satendra Pandey case drew on the Court's order in Deepak Kumar case. It emerges that most relevant public institutions have found it difficult to combat environmental lawlessness unleashed by traders of sand, the minor mineral. This has become a major environmental challenge which threatens the existence of rivers. If there is no sand in the river, there will be no water in the rivers. As a consequence cities and villages in the vicinity face the prospect of ghost cities and villages because of surface water and ground water crisis. 

Bihar Finance Minister failed to table CAG 's audit report in Vidhan Sabha

Delay in tabling of the audit report of the Comptroller Auditor General (CAG) in the Vidhan Sabha has deprived voters in Bihar to examine the financial performance of the government. Six reports of CAG are pending. Only two reports of 2017-18 have been presented and none have been tabled for 2019-2020.

CAG is empowered to audit all receipts and expenditures from the Government of India and the State governments. In the recent past it has pulled up the Bihar government headed for indiscreet utilization of funds. The CAG has recorded the unnecessary withdrawals from the Contingency Fund and its use of the borrowed funds for repayment of borrowings and interests thereupon.

The CAG report which was tabled in the Vidhan Sabha in March 2020 revealed that the corpus of the State’s Contingency Fund of Rs 350 crore has been regularly increased on a temporary basis. At present State’s Contingency Fund stands at Rs 6403.42 crore. CAG has objected to unnecessary withdrawals from this fund.

The previous CAG report read:“During 2017-18, the state government made 126 withdrawals amounting to Rs 4, 949.21 crores from the Contingency Fund. Out of these, 35 withdrawals amounting to Rs 314.49 crore (6.35 percent) were made for meeting expenditures which were clearly non-contingent in nature, violating Constitutional provisions”. 

The CAG had asked the Finance Department to review the practice of such a large annual increase in the Contingency Fund corpus and also ensure the advances from this fund are utilized only to meet urgent expenditures.

The CAG report recorded its concern over the  manner in which 80 to 85 percent of the borrowed funds were utilized for repayment of borrowings and interest. This revealed that the state has been spending less on developmental activities. 

The primary deficit of the State has increased nearly double-fold in the past four years which indicates “non-debt receipts were insufficient to meet the primary expenditure of the State as well as to meet the Interest Payment."

The revenue receipts in 2017-18 grew by 11 percent as compared to the previous year but were lower than the budget estimates by Rs 19, 711 crores. 

The revenue expenditures in 2017-18 grew by eight percent but were lower than the budget estimates of Rs 19, 979 crores while Capital expenditure in 2017-18 increased by six percent but was lower than the budget estimates of Rs 3, 289 crore. 

The CAG has recommended that “The Finance Department should rationalize the budget preparation exercise so that the persisting gap between budget estimates and actual is bridged.”

Bihar government incurred a notional loss of over Rs 3, 479 crores on account of the difference between the Government’s borrowings cost and the return on investment in various entities.

The CAG report pointed out that out of 127 projects worth over Rs 1, 819 crores due for completion during 2011-12 to 2017-18, the costs were revised only for three projects. The details of the remaining 124 projects were not furnished.

Out of the total savings of Rs 46, 396.66 crores, only Rs 34, 570.64 crores was surrendered while the remaining Rs 11, 826.02 crore which comes to 25 percent of total savings lapsed during the year. Further, Rs 19, 042.51 crore, which is 55 percent of the total surrender was surrendered on the last working day of March 2018. 

The CAG reports said there has been total surrender of funds in 189 heads of accounts.

It revealed that the accounts of 30 working PSUs/Corporations and 37 non-working PSUs/Corporations are in arrears from one to 22 years and one to 41 years respectively in violation of the Companies Act/Acts of respective statutory corporations.

The CAG report disclosed that Rs 6, 162.68 crore drawn on 15, 214 Abstract Contingent (AC) bills remained outstanding as of March 2018 due to delays in submission of Detailed Contingent (DC) bills. 

In its last report CAG had asked the Finance Department to ensure all controlling officers adjust AC bills pending beyond the prescribed period in a time-bound manner. Disciplinary actions could be initiated against officers/officials who draw funds on AC bills to avoid lapse of budget.

It may be recalled that in 2010,  four audit reports for the fiscal year 2008-09, by the CAG was presented in the Vidhan Sabha on July 23, 2010.

In 2020, the ruling parties are going before the electorate without presenting a single CAG audit report for 2018-19. Bihar Finance Minister presented only two CAG audit reports for 2017-18. 

Bihar Finance Minister ought to have tabled the CAG report for 2018-19 by convening session of current state assembly in September. CAG submitted its audit report to Raj Bhawan on 17August 2020. The delay in preparation and finalisation of the audit reports for 2019-2020 by CAG is also matter of grave concern. Parliament's Public Accounts Committee ought to examine this aspect of CAG's conduct as well. 

Election Commission announced election schedule on 25 Sept. Finance Minister had one month to demonstrate his accountability. It seems to imply that Finance Minister has failed to comply with CAG's recommendations. State Legislature's Public Accounts Committee of the new state assembly ought to rigorously undertake a thorough probe into the instances of dereliction of duty after November 10. 

सियासी दलों को वायदा करना होगा कि वे गाँव को शहरी कचरे का कूड़ादान नहीं बनने देंगे

बिहार विधानसभा चुनाव 2020, जनघोष संवाद श्रृंखला-4 में " शहरी मुद्दे और पर्यावरण" विषय पर आयोजित चर्चा में 30 सितंबर को पानी और पर्यावरण पर काम करनेवाले टॉक्सिक्स वाच और ईस्ट इंडिया रिसर्च कौंसिल के डॉ.गोपालकृष्ण  द्वारा दिया गया वक्तव्य: 

भस्मीकरण तकनिकी से ‘कचरे से ऊर्जा’ अवैज्ञानिक है. पर्यावरण स्वास्थ्य के लिए गंभीर समस्यााएं पैदा हो रहीं हैं. कचरे से ऊर्जा बनाने वाले ऐसे संयंत्र डाइऑक्सिन नामक विषैले रसायन निकालते हैं। ये उन 12 घातक रसायनों में शामिल है जिनसे दुनिया शीघ्र छुटकारा पाने की जुगत में है। राजधानी पटना से हर दिन निकलनेवाले 750 टन कचरे के निपटारे के लिए पटना जिला के रामचक बैरिया गाँव में ही पटना के को ही शहरी लोगों का कूड़ादान बना दिया गया है . यदि इसे सही मान लिया गया तो जल्द ही अन्य गाँव भी शहरों के कूड़ादान में तब्दील हो जायेंगे. यह कदम अवैज्ञानिक पर्यावरण और जन स्वास्थ्य विरोधी है. ठोस अपशिष्ट प्रबंधन के लिए समन्वित दृष्टिकोण अपनाने पर जोर दिया. विकेंद्रित कचरा निपटान सुविधाएं स्थापित करने पर बल दिया. 

अपने विशिष्ट भौगोलिक परिस्थितियों और जटिल जलविज्ञान के विशेषताओं के कारण कोसी, हिमालय और गंगा घाटी की एक ऐसी नदी है जिसके बारे में अभी व्यापक रूप से समझा जाना बाकी है। यह सही समय है कि नीति निर्माता ''प्रकृति पर नियंत्रण'' करने के अपनी पुरानी अवधारणा का त्याग करें और यह माने कि इस संकट से जो की एशिया का सबसे बड़े पर्यावरण संकट है, निपटने के लिए हमें बाढ़ और नदियों के साथ जीना सीखना होगा। अब तक न ऐसा कोई तटबंध बना है और न भविष्य में बनेगा जिसमें कटाव न आए। नदी के तटबंध में कटाव और सरकार द्वारा बड़े बांध का प्रस्ताव के तर्क में इस बात पर ध्यान नहीं दिया गया कि कोसी को बांधा नहीं जा सकता।

नदियों में प्रदूषण को बचाने के लिये हमारी चिन्ता देश की सभी नदियों के लिये लोगों की सहभागिता सुनिश्चित करने के लिये होनी चाहिये। अगर कोई जबरन हमारे घर में घुसता है तो वो सीमा अतिक्रमण का अपराधी माना जाता है। औद्योगिक प्रदूषण हमारी रक्त वाहनियों में घुस कर स्वास्थ्य संकट पैदा कर रहा है। 

राजनैतिक दल और राजनेता जिन्हें उद्योग और उद्योगपति ही धन देते हैं, केवल भावनात्मक और मौखिक आश्वासन ही देते हैं और ऐसे नीति परिवर्तन से मुँह चुराते हैं, जो नदियों के संरक्षण के लिये जरूरी हैं। नदियों का संरक्षण हमारी शहरीकरण, उद्योग, जल, भूमि, कृषि और ऊर्जा नीतियों का अभिन्न अंग होना चाहिये। 

नदियों के किनारों के लगातार क्षरण के विपरीत परिणामों की दृष्टि में, प्राकृतिक संसाधन आधारित अंतरपीढ़ी समानता को सुनिश्चित करने के लिए मौज़ूदा नीतियों में उलटफेर के अटूट तर्क हैं। तभी हम यह सुनश्चित कर पायेंगे कि नदियों पर उनके सामर्थ्य से अधिक दवाब न डाला जाय। हमें इस भ्रम में भी नहीं रहना चाहिये कि प्रदूषण चाके किसी भी स्तर तक चला जाये, हम ट्रीटमेन्ट प्लाँट लगाकर नदियों को सुरक्षित कर लेंगे। नीतियों की जटिलता, जो ये निर्धारण करती हैं कि कितना पानी नदियों में रखना है, कितने खतरनाक रसायन नदियों मे छोडे जा रहे हैं, सीवेज और औद्योगिक प्रदूषण की कितनी अधिकता होगी, ये सभी बहुत महत्वपूर्ण है। इन सभी समस्यायों के समाधान हमारे प्राकृतिक संसाधनों के नियंत्रण की नीतियों में मूलभूत बदलाव में निहित है। 

बहती हुई नदी के आर्थिक महत्व को दरकिनार कर सिर्फ उसके जल प्रवाह को रोकने में आर्थिक फायदा देखने की भूल को अतिशीघ्र सुधारने की जरुरत है. गंगा के प्रवाह को भी इसी प्राण घातक आर्थिक सोच ने नुक्सान पहुचाया है। 

गंगा घाटी के सन्दर्भ में प्रधानमंत्री की अगुवाई में एक बार फिर जो कदम उठाये जा रहे है उससे अंततः यही साबित होगा की नदी के हत्यारे, सरकार से ज्यादा ताकतवर है. अगर ऐसा नहीं है तो प्रधानमन्त्री गंगा नदी के हत्यारों की एक लिस्ट जारी करने का हौसला दिखाए, बताये की 2500 किलोमीटर लम्बी गंगाघाटी के इलाके को किस्तों में नष्ट करने वाले इन आतंकवादियो के साथ एक निश्चित समयसीमा में वे क्या सलूक करने जा रहे है, उन नीतियों में बदलाव की घोषणा करे जिससे गंगा सहित सभी नदिया खतरे में है और गंगा घाटी की लोगो की भागीदारी सुनिश्चित करे. 

बिहार के 2,50000 जल स्रोतों में से केवल 93000 ही अतिक्रमण मुक्त है, जल स्रोतों को अतिक्रमण मुक्त करना होगा. गंगा को बचाने के लिए फरक्का बांध को हटाना होगा.

बिहार को एस्बेस्टस मुक्त बनाने के लिए बिहिया के एस्बेस्टस कारखाने को भोजपुर से हटाना होगा. पानी के सप्लाई के लिए जो पाइप प्रयोग किया गया है वह एस्बेस्टस सीमेंट से बना है. एस्बेस्टस पर 70 से अधिक देशों में पाबन्दी लग चुकी है क्योंकी इस खनिज पदार्थ का सुरक्षित प्रयोग असंभव है. एस्बेस्टस-सीमेंट पाइप व्यावहारिक रूप से आधुनिक निर्माण में उपयोग नहीं किए जाते हैं। एस्बेस्टस पर तुरंत रोक लगाई जाए जिन इमारतों में एस्बेस्टस का इस्तेमाल किया गया है उन्हें इससे मुक्त करवाया जाए. एस्बेस्टस का असर सभी वर्गों पर हो रहा है. इससे होने वाली बीमारियों का इलाज करना मुश्किल होगा. विश्व स्वास्थय सगंठन (डब्ल्यूएचओ) ने सभी प्रकार के एस्बेस्टस को कैंसर पैदा करने वाले पदार्थों की श्रेणी मे रखा है. इसे देखते हुए कई विकसित देशों ने इस पर प्रतिबंध लगा रखा है.एस्बेस्टस से होने वाले कैंसर और अन्य बीमारियों का पता लगाने में काफी समय लगता है और इनके इलाज में भी काफी परेशानी होती है.भारत कच्चे एस्बेस्टस का सबसे ज़्यादा आयात करने वाले देशों में से एक है. यह आयात ब्राज़ील रुस और ज़िम्बाब्वे जैसे देशों से किया जाता है. भारत में सफ़ेद एस्बेस्टस सहित सभी प्रकार के एस्बेस्टस  के खनन पर रोक है लेकिन इसके आयात निर्यात, निर्माण, उद्योग और इस्तेमाल पर कोई रोक नहीं है. 

पिछले साल 2 जुलाई को मुख्यमंत्री ने विधान सभा में वायदा क्या कि वे बिहार में एस्बेस्टस बिहिया नहीं लगने देंगे मगर उन्होंने ये नहीं बताया कि बिहिया भोजपुर के गैरकानूनी एस्बेस्टस कारखाने को रोकने के लिए कब आदेश देंगे. भोजपुर के गिद्ध में बंद पड़े एस्बेस्टस कारखाने में पड़े एस्बेस्टस कचरा पुरे इलाके को प्रदूषित कर रहा है. उसे हटवाने का काम भी लंबित है. सरकार को रेल मंत्रालय से सबक लेकर सभी एस्बेस्टस पदार्थों कि खरीद- फरोख्त पर पाबन्दी लगा देनी चाहिए. सियासी दलों के इमारतों अदालतों विधान मंडल की इमारतों अस्पतालों शैक्षणिक संस्थानों और अन्य सभी इमारतों और घरों को एस्बेस्टस मुक्त कराने के सम्बन्ध में कदम उठाने चाहिए. सभी वाहनों को भी एस्बेस्टस से मुक्त करने के लिए निर्णय लेना चाहिए. स्वस्थ्य राज्य का विषय है अतः संविधान राज्य को यह अधिकार देता है कि वे जान स्वास्थ्य की रक्षा के लिए कानून बनाये. राज्य के अस्पतालों को एस्बेस्टस जनित रोगों से पीड़ित लोगों का एक अलग रजिस्टर बनाये और एक मुआवज़ा फण्ड कि व्यवस्था करे. एस्बेस्टस कंपनियों को हिदायत दे कि वे एस्बेस्टस मुक्त उत्पादों का उत्पादन को तत्काल अपनाये. 
परिचर्चा में सौम्य दत्ता रंजीत कुमार , अनामिका प्रियदर्शी राजेंद्र रवि महेंद्र यादव दीनबंधु वत्स संतोष उपाध्याय धर्मेंद्र कुमार अजय झा आदि ने भाग लिया . उनका कहना था कि सियासी दलों को विज्ञानसम्मत पर्यावरण और जान स्वस्थ्य के प्रति संवेदनशील कदम को अपने मैनिफेस्टो में शामिल करना चाहिए.

Bihar Pollution Control Board yet to order decontamination of asbestos factory site in Giddha, Koelwar, Bhojpur

With Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB) cancelling the No Objection Certificate given to the asbestos factory unit of Tamil Nadu based Nibhi Industries Pvt Ltd, Koelwar block, Bhojpur, Bihar is all set to be free of asbestos based factories. Sources have revealed that loans raised in the name of setting up the hazardous factory in question have been diverted to set up a unit Sri Lanka. The veracity of such claims merit separate probe by concerned agencies. 

Pollution Control Board's action is consistent with the ban in more than 70 countries. These countries have banned production, use, manufacture and trade of the hazardous mineral fiber, asbestos. These countries include: Nepal, Algeria, Czech Republic, Iceland, Malta, Seychelles, Argentina, Denmark, Ireland, Mozambique, Slovakia, Australia, Egypt, Israel, Netherlands, Slovenia, Austria, Estonia, Italy, New Caledonia, South Africa, Bahrain, Finland, Japan, Norway, Spain, Belgium, France, Jordan, Oman, Sweden, Brunei, Gabon, South Korea, Poland, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Germany, Kuwait, Portugal, Turkey, Chile, Greece, Latvia, Qatar, United Kingdom, Croatia, Honduras, Lithuania, Romania, Uruguay, Cyprus, Hungary, Luxembourg and Saudi Arabia. 

In such a backdrop, there is a logical compulsion based on scientific and medical evidence including resolutions of WHO and ILO to ban asbestos of all kinds including white chrysotile asbestos to save life and health of Indians. 

WHO’s views are available at: http://www.who.int/ipcs/assessment/public_health/asbestos/en/

Due to incessant efforts of Ban Asbestos Network of India (BANI) and ToxicsWatch Alliance (TWA) along with Parwaywarn Bachao Jeewan Bachao Sangharsh Samiti and Parywawarn Swasthya Suraksha Samiti pointing out non-compliance with environmental laws, BSPCB has revoked its emission-consent order and discharge consent order which was valid till 31st March, 2018. Chairman, BSPCB has ordered, the company in question, Tamil Nadu based Nibhi Industries Pvt Ltd. to “close your industrial unit with immediate effect, failing which complaints shall be filed u/ss. 44 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and 37 of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.”   This land allotment was considered to be part of the scam that led to an inquiry into allotments by Bihar Industrial Area Development Authority (BIADA).

In Bhojpur's Giddha village in Koilwar block, the 100,000 MT Capacity Asbestos Fibre Cement Corrugated Sheet, Flat Sheet, Accessories and Light Weight Fly Ash Block Plant acquired 15 acres. The plant site is located adjacent to Ara-Koilwar road.

When it was repeatedly pointed out the violations of the general and specific conditions given the environmental clearance and NOC by Ramco Industries, BSPCB’s Chairman took its cognizance. He has issued an order saying, “I therefore, have no option but to treat this unit as a non-compliant industry".

Questions have been raised against these plants in Bihar Vidhan Sabha and Vidhan Parishad. Abdul Bari Siddiqui, the leader of opposition has raised the issue of hazardous asbestos factories in Vidhan Sabha.

In another significant observation Awadhesh Narain Singh Chairperson, Bihar Legislative Council (BLC) and former labour minister said, “buying asbestos is akin to buying cancer” and “pain of asbestos related diseases is worse than the pain of unemployment.” The speech of Chairman, BLC is available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9TbemRUkYM

Given the fact that NOC of all the asbestos based factories been cancelled by BSPCB, State Government should ask Nibhi to decontaminate the site of it's factory in Giddha, Koelwar, Bhojpur pursuant to it's cancellation order. 

 In India, asbestos mining is technically banned and trade in asbestos waste (dust and fibers) is also banned but the process of banning trade, manufacturing and use of white asbestos is held up due to lobbying at the behest of asbestos producing countries.

Government’s apathy towards victims of primary and secondary exposure of killer asbestos mineral fibers shows that in the conflict between naked lust for profit and public health, it is choosing to be complicit with the former. The legacy of callousness towards victims of asbestos related diseases refuses to learn lessons from the epidemic of such diseases world over due to past usage of asbestos. Asbestos related diseases have a long incubation period ranging from 5-50 years.    

In a message to BANI, Prof. Colin L. Soskolne, University of Alberta, Canada Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, Australia Fellow, American College of Epidemiology and Fellow, Collegium Ramazzini pointed out that asbestos related diseases have a long incubation period ranging from "5 - 50" years" which has serious implications. 

 Union Environment Ministry’s Vision Statement on Environment and Human Health reads, "Alternatives to asbestos may be used to the extent possible and use of asbestos may be phased out" but the Experts Appraisal Committee of this very ministry continues to give environmental clearance to such hazardous industries. This is notwithstanding the fact that "The Government of India is considering the ban on use of chrysotile asbestos in India to protect workers and the general population against primary and secondary exposure," as announced in a concept paper by the Ministry of Labour. Both these documents are available on central government’s website but struggle to make Indians safe from deadly exposure of asbestos fibers continues in the face of misinformation campaign of the killer industry.

Health being a State subject under the Constitution, Bihar ought to take a lead by banning asbestos procurement and use in the state to pave the way for other state governments and the central government to follow.

Responding to anti-asbestos struggle Bihar Chief Minister assured the state assembly in July 2019 that he will puncture this industry and will not allow setting up of such toxic factories in the state but the task of decontaminating asbestos laden factory site like one in Giddha, building, preparing a register of victims of asbestos related diseases, creating an inventory of asbestos based products and announcing a compensation fund for victims of fatal diseases remains to be undertaken. It has reliably been learnt that the preliminary work of identifying victims have begun in a well known cancer hospital I'm Patna.       

Ban Asbestos Network of India (BANI)  has been pursuing the campaign for a nation-wide for more than a decade to save present and future generation from asbestos related diseases. It's effort is aimed at environmental and occupational health justice in compliance with Supreme Court's verdict dated, 27 January, 1995 in CERC v Union of India.