[nukkad] HLL admits to mercury pollution of Kodaikanal

["Nelson Fernandes" <>]

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Following the exposure of a mercury dumpsite in Kodaikanal, Unilever has
decided to permanently close its mercury thermometer factory and to clean up
the dump site and contaminated waste buried at its factory site for the past
eighteen years
The factory run by Hindustan Lever Ltd, a 51% subsidiary of Unilever has
been releasing mercury vapor and effluent into Pambar Shola (a forest
sanctuary) to the west, and the Kodi lake watershed to the east, but denies
that mercury has any ill effects on people or the environment.

Greenpeace and local groups have condemned Unilever"s double-standards in
projecting an image of an ethical, caring corporation in its dealings in the
West, but its practice in developing countries displays a callous disregard
for human rights and the environment. Ex-workers from Hindustan Lever, say
that the company's double-standards were also evident in their casual
attitude towards mercury exposure in the workplace, and in the company's
continuing and unscientific denials that any such exposure occurred.

The company claims that none of the 140 current workers, or any of the 250
or so ex-workers, (many of who resigned in the past due to health reasons),
are at all affected by mercury. Ten worker below the age of 40 have died
while employed at the plant. No investigations were performed at the time of
death. Ex-workers report kidney problems, chronic stomachaches, blood
vomiting, infertility, and women suffering a variety of gynecological
disorders. The company has neither conducted a comprehensive and scientific
epidemiological study, nor published the basis of its claims that no workers
have ever been affected.

Also, contrary to its claims of transparency, Hindustan Lever have failed to
supply the TN Pollution Control Board documentation in its possession which
would help local communities to discover the extent and intensity of the
contamination of their health and environment.

Greenpeace has called on the Ministry of Environment to acknowledge their
shortcomings and fulfill their responsibility of protecting the environment
by initiating an action plan to rapidly phase in safe, non-toxic
alternatives to mercury use in India.





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