A recent medical camp in Bhalabhadrapuram, East Godavari district, led to reports of high incidence of various cancers. Locals were screened for various types of cancer, highlighting the alarmingly high rates of cancer cases in the region. The camp was organized at the medical camp in Bhalabhadrapuram, where medical experts from Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Visakhapatnam, carried out health surveys and provided treatment to affected individuals.
The Grasim Industries Limited (GIL), a flagship company of the Aditya Birla Group, operates a Chlor-Alkali unit in the area. Environmental experts and activists have raised concerns about the unit’s potential environmental pollution, citing the use of Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA, a known cancer-causing substance). The unit was commissioned by the then Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy in 2022.
A report by a group of environmental experts, led by K. Babu Rao, former scientist at the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, has called for a thorough investigation into the unit’s environmental practices. The report suggests that the proximity to the factory could be linked to the alarming rate of cancer cases in the area, which is three times higher than the state average.
In addition, a letter to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) from former Secretary to the Government of India, E.A.S. Sarma, has sought intervention to prevent the spread of cancers in the area. Sarma has asked the ministry to depute Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) experts to investigate the unit’s compliance with environmental regulations and conditions.
The reports and concerns raised by environmental experts and activists are a serious cause for concern, and immediate action is needed to address the issue and prevent further spread of cancers in the region. The government and regulatory bodies must take swift and decisive action to address the environmental concerns and ensure the health and well-being of the local population.