Moves to Ban Asbestos in Delhi
According to a report in the November 9, 2001 issue of The Times of India, one of India’s most prestigious newspapers, officials in Delhi are "seriously considering" a ban on asbestos in the municipality. Not before time agrees Harsh Vardhan, former Delhi Health Minister: "Despite the use of asbestos posing a serious threat to the city’s health, concrete action has never been taken against its use." A senior representative from the Environment Ministry told journalist A K Das: "We are examining the modalities of issuing directives aimed at phasing out the use of asbestos in water pipes and roofing material used by schools." A committee has been set up by the Ministry to investigate the hazardous effects of asbestos. P K Tripathy, Chief Executive of the board responsible for water and sewage in Delhi, confirmed that a decision has already been taken to use cement or ductile iron pipes in place of asbestos-containing water pipes. Furthermore, the Delhi Jal Board proposes "to undertake a project involving the mapping out of all our main water pipes - including those made of asbestos in Delhi."
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November 12, 2001
