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Danger of Asbestos Lingers in Kaimore as Closed Factory Waste Sparks Health Concerns
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News18•08-10-2026, 22:20
Danger of Asbestos Lingers in Kaimore as Closed Factory Waste Sparks Health Concerns
- •The legacy waste of an asbestos factory that operated from 1934 to 1988 in Kaimore, Katni district, has resurfaced as a major local concern.
- •Residents claim that around 1 million tonnes of hazardous waste remains underground, affecting approximately 1200 to 1300 people based on a survey by the Krishnendu Mukherjee London Trust.
- •Following a memorandum by locals, the district administration and Pollution Control Board collected soil and groundwater samples from multiple locations for testing at a central lab.
- •The health department is preparing to organize medical camps and review the medical history of cancer-related patients to assess health impacts.
- •Authorities are considering safely capping the waste with a thick layer of soil and developing plantations instead of excavating it, to prevent further risk.
Key Questions Answered
Local residents claim that about 1 million tonnes of asbestos waste from the closed factory remains buried underground, affecting 1,200 to 1,300 people and posing serious risks of breathing and lung-related health problems.
Following instructions from the Collector, a joint team from the district administration and the Pollution Control Board collected soil samples from 7 to 8 locations and groundwater samples from 5 to 6 locations, sending them to the Central Lab for testing.
Officials noted that digging up and moving the waste could increase exposure risks, so experts are considering safely covering the affected area with a 3 to 4-foot thick layer of soil and developing plantations or grounds over it.
