SC asks Guj to pay Rs 3L compensation to silicosis hit workers

The Supreme Court today directed Gujarat government to provide within a month compensation of Rs 3 lakh each to the families of 238 workers who died of silicosis after working in the state's quartz industries.
A bench comprising justices Kurian Joseph and R F Nariman also asked the Madhya Pradesh government to immediately rehabilitate another 304 ailing patients.
Meanwhile, the court has asked the Chairperson of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to personally appear before it on May 11, the next date of hearing.
On February 19, the apex court had directed CPCB to file an affidavit within four weeks on the action taken on the suggestions on spreading of silicosis disease due to pollution from quartz industries located in Godhra.

The court's direction came while hearing a plea by an NGO seeking compensation and rehabilitation of workers who had developed silicosis while working in crushing factories.
In 2010, the National Human Rights Commission had ordered Gujarat government to pay compensation of up to Rs 3 lakh to 238 silicosis affected workers.