Suhail Bhat
Srinagar Feb 18: Government today said it has not conducted any specific scientific study to establish a direct causal link between emissions from cement factories and limestone mining and the prevalence of diseases in the Khrew area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, but acknowledged that dust pollution there poses a serious and persistent public health challenge.
In a written reply to a question of MLA Hasnain Masoodi in Legislative Assembly, the Government said dust pollution, largely attributed to cement manufacturing units and limestone mining activities in Khrew, is an important environmental determinant of health, with inhalation of fine particulate matter known to increase the risk of respiratory, allergic, dermatological and cardiovascular conditions among exposed populations.
The Government said it is “acutely aware and deeply concerned” about the healthcare burden caused by dust-related illnesses and their complications, particularly among vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly and people with pre-existing diseases.
While stating that the available statistical information does not necessarily establish any causal relationship with industrial emissions, the Government disclosed that certain disease cases have been reported from the area, including 80 cases of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), 72 cases of bronchitis, 40 cases of asthma and two cases of lung cancer. However, it clarified that these cases cannot be authenticated as having resulted specifically from emissions of cement factories or mining operations.
To address the situation, the Government said it is considering a multi-pronged preventive and responsive strategy. Under enhanced surveillance and healthcare preparedness, public health institutions in the affected belt, including the Sub-District Hospital and associated Primary Health Centres, are being instructed to maintain active surveillance systems with systematic documentation of pollution-related cases such as respiratory, allergic and cardiovascular diseases.
On community outreach, the Government said it will intensify Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities in Khrew and adjoining areas. These include dissemination of advisories on minimising exposure during high-dust periods, promotion of protective measures such as the use of N95 masks among high-risk groups, and organisation of health camps with a focus on respiratory screening and early detection of pollution-induced illnesses.
The Government also acknowledged that lasting solutions require action at the source of pollution. It said it will engage with the Department of Environment, Forests and Ecology and the Pollution Control Board, and provide health data and impact assessments to strengthen enforcement of dust-control norms. “These include water sprinkling, covered transportation of raw materials, and development of green belts around industrial and mining units, as well as advocacy for adoption of cleaner technologies and comprehensive environmental management plans by the industries involved,” the government said.
On long-term planning, the Government said epidemiological data is being considered for collection and analysis to understand disease trends over time, which will inform future healthcare infrastructure planning and resource allocation in the region to better handle the associated disease burden.
Regarding infrastructure upgradation, the Health Department said the Primary Health Centre (PHC) Khrew is not feasible for upgradation to the next level as per IPHS-2022 norms and that it is a policy decision. It said the present catchment population of PHC Khrew is around 35,000, and the area is already served by higher-level facilities, including AIIMS Awantipora located about 17 km away and the Sub-District Hospital at Pampore, around 11 km away, making creation of a CHC or trauma hospital from a population and planning perspective not feasible.
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