Think of Kodaikanal and the lush green landscape, cool winds and mesmerising tea plantations come to mind. But buried deep inside the picturesque little hill-station is the ghastly truth. The Indian internet has been raging in the past few week with regards to the Kodaikanal Unilever tragedy but little is known about it other than the fact that Unilever was dumping Mercury in the vicinity of the factory. The matter has been highly publicised having even a rap song for it with the people of Kodaikanal demanding justice. However, is that enough?Also Read - Companies Offer Bonuses, Increments & More Leaves To Keep Employees in Good Spirits
Let’s go into the flashback mode and visit 1984 where something similar happened. The only difference is: there it took one night for the cataclysm to effect and years of destruction since; with Hindustan Unilever, it took years of slow destruction for the terrible after-effects to come to light. However, in both cases families have been destroyed, livelihood snatched away and nature exploited in the worst possible way. Also Read - Unilever to Remove Word 'Normal' From Beauty Products Across World to Promote Inclusivity
How did it all begin? Also Read - Stocks to Buy Before Budget 2021 India: Here Are 5 Sectors to Look Out For
In 1982, Ponds India set up a mercury thermometer manufacturing facility in Kodaikanal after it’s parent factory in the United States was shut. The reason for the plant shutting down was an increased awareness among the citizens with regards to nature and environment poisoning due to dumping of untreated chemical waste in the surrounding areas and water bodies. But naturally, with the shutting of that plant in came India. With Indian environment practices being as shoddy, Ponds India set up the plant in Kodaikanal and began dumping massive amounts of untreated, poisonous mercury right into the forest and the water bodies surrounding the lush hill station.
However, in 1987, with the Unilever-Ponds takeover, the factory passed into Unilever hands where they continued to manufacture the thermometers for their UK and US customers. All India continued to receive was the poison.
When did people realise something was wrong?
It was over a decade later, in 2001 that workers at the factory began complaining of health problems and issues like liver and kidney failure. With the number of cases slowly on the rise, the people began complaining and health groups lead by NGOs began to claim that it was the mercury poisoning by HUL that was causing the disorders. In addition, a few broken thermometers with the mercury leaking out were found in the forests adjoining Kodaikanal and once again, the blame fell on HULs shoulders. The water and soil of the areas around the factory were tested and mercury 1000 times more than the naturally occurring mercury in the environment. The land is so polluted that mercury has seeped into the plants through the soil and generations of locals are affected. While the Tamil Nadu government is not proactive in the case, local Public Interest groups have been active in demanding justice.
But were the allegations true?
Hindustan Unilever has been staunch in refusing all allegations. They have been maintaining and still maintain that all protocol was followed and there has been no harm or ill-effect to the environment or the locals. The factory continued to function till Greenpeace interfered with the issue and asked the factory to shut. The company soon admitted it’s activities after Greenpeace interfered but quickly went back to their stand of not harming the environment. However, they did agree that around 5.3 metric tonne of glass containing mercury had been sold to a local glass dealer and not recycled or disposed off properly. Apart from that, the company continues to deny all allegations.
In a recent statement, HUL continues to maintain that their policies have been clear and according to ‘Employee Health’ section: “Several expert studies have been conducted since the factory’s closure and all have concluded that our former employees did not suffer ill-health due to the nature of their work.” With regards to the ‘Environment Impact’, HUL has once again raised its hands and said, “An expert study has also concluded that there was no adverse impact on the environment in Kodaikanal.” Along with the statements, Hindustan Unilever also gave multiple research reports and statements that state that there has been no harm caused and everything is absolutely normal.
What were the demands made to rectify this issue?
However, that the issue persists cannot be denied. Whatever Hindustan Unilever might do to brush the issue under the rug, the fact of the matter is that the mercury poisoning has affected many lives in the area. Also, Kodaikanal being one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country, the presence of mercury and the spreading to other parts can affect even the tourism industry; effectively shutting all sources of survival for the locals.
In order to demand justice, the local Public Interest groups demanded the area be cleaned, the chemical waste be treated and then be effectively disposed in a safe manner. While initially the demands were to clean up the mercury by sending the remainder of the chemical back to USA and getting it treated there, the NGOs were against it as it would lead to reverse dumping. Research carried out by the Atomic Energy Department of the Government of India discovered extremely high levels of mercury even 4 years after the factory was shut.
Why is mercury harmful for humans?
Mercury, one of the only metals in liquid state apart from Bromine is toxic for individuals beyond a certain limit. The metal harms humans not just on sight but even working closely with Mercury, inhaling it or touching it can prove to be dangerous in the long run. Inhaling toxic mercury fumes can affect the human nervous system, digestive system, immune system and the lungs and kidneys. Mercury even affects child birth and the unborn embryo in the uterus. It leads to death of the child in the womb, birth defects, still-born children, etc. Mercury is considered by WHO as one of the top ten chemicals or groups of chemicals of major public health concern. The children of those affected show stunted mental growth, physical disabilities, etc.
Why is it similar to Dow Chemical?
The Bhopal tragedy has been one of the worst tragedies to affect not just Indians but all of mankind. The effects of the tragedy have escaped scot-free and are enjoying. Looks like the case is the same with Hindustan Unilever. While the company is responding to the allegations, it is only to staunchly deny them. Those affected are yet to see any justice. Not only their means of livelihood been stolen but the excess level of mercury dumped in the environment will scar them for generations to come. The court dates for Dow Chemical case are still leading a happy life, free. By the look of things, it doesn’t seem that the Indian government is in any mood to bring the Unilever defaulters to justice. Meanwhile, the fight of the Kodaikanal innocents continues while the common Indian watches YouTube videos and expresses sympathy.