Indian Court Seeks Answers Over Asbestos Risk to 28,000 Residents Near Old Factory

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has sought responses from the central and state governments over suspected widespread asbestos contamination in Kymore town in Katni district, where nearly 10.19 lakh tonnes of contaminated soil could pose a long-term health threat to around 28,000 residents. The Jabalpur bench issued notices on November 5 while hearing a public interest litigation.

The petition concerns hazardous industrial waste left behind by a British-era asbestos factory established by Turner and Newall in 1933 and 1934. It alleges that the waste was never scientifically identified, contained or safely disposed of, and that material generated over decades was dumped or used in residential areas, agricultural land and public spaces.

Contamination estimates and cleanup costs

The petition refers to a 2016 assessment by Canadian consultancy ECOH titled Asbestos Investigation and Remedial Options Analysis: Kymore and Kalhara Villages. That assessment estimated 5,66,405 cubic meters of potentially contaminated soil, equivalent to around 10.19 lakh tonnes, across Kymore and the Kalhara landfill. It examined contamination across 5,62,500 square meters in Kymore and 3,905 square meters at Kalhara.

The same assessment put the cost of excavation and off-site disposal at 88 million dollars and the cost of capping the contaminated areas at 52 million dollars. The extent of contamination and its health impact in Kymore remain matters before the court.

Asbestos fibers can cause diseases including asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. Health concerns extend beyond former factory workers. A school established within the factory premises in 1940 has figured in earlier investigations. Its former headmistress, Nirmala Gurung, was diagnosed with parenchymal asbestosis in 2016, raised the issue at a United Nations forum in Geneva in 2017 and died in September 2020. Medical camps have been held in Kymore since 2013, and the petition cites records of hundreds of people allegedly affected by asbestos-related diseases.

What the petitioners want

Social activist Ashutosh Dixit Manu and Kymore resident Ganesh Rao filed the petition, with advocate Aryan Urmaliya appearing for them. They have sought an independent environmental assessment, comprehensive health screening and treatment for residents and former employees, compensation, and a time-bound plan for the safe removal and disposal of the waste.

The case also raises questions about corporate accountability. The factory passed through successive ownership structures, including the Eternit group, before becoming part of Everest Industries Ltd. The UK-based T and N Asbestos Trust has settled 3,849 claims.

Why it matters for industrial workers

For people employed in manufacturing, construction and materials processing, the petition highlights the long tail of exposure risks that outlast the plants that created them. Industrial safety work covers the identification of hazardous materials, air and soil monitoring, containment of waste, and medical surveillance of workers and nearby communities. Older factories that handled asbestos, lead or other toxic substances often leave liabilities that fall to later owners, regulators and public health systems.

The court has not yet ruled on the substance of the allegations. What happens next depends on the responses filed by the center and the state government and on whether the bench orders independent testing, screening or a remediation schedule. For residents and former workers in Kymore, the question is whether the case produces verifiable health data and a funded cleanup plan, or another round of notices.