They're not from round here: Indian uranium boss dismisses deformities of villagers
I bet they came from elsewhere, head of uranium firm in east says of neighbours with high rates of disability, which reports tie to mine waste
Confronted with reports that villages near Uranium Corporation of India's mines have unusually high numbers of physically deformed people, chairman Diwakar Acharya was nonplussed.
"I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of those guys are imported from elsewhere, OK?" he said.
His response came after a report on July 9 highlighted the struggles of the locals with disease and early deaths - and the suspicion they shared with some environmental activists that the health conditions are linked to mining waste.
There’s no change in disease pattern around Jadugora. If at all, it is better ...
Acharya dismissed as biased any findings of a correlation between the mines and deformities. Activists and doctors come with an agenda to Jadugora, a town of about 19,500 people in eastern Jharkhand state that is home to the company's main operations, he said in a July 14 interview.
"See, what happens is, you say you are a specialist and you'll come and treat," Acharya said at Uranium Corp's headquarters. "But ... you are convinced UCIL is evil and you have come here only with the sole motive of finding reasons which would validate your preconceived notions."
Uranium Corp sends its security officers to monitor attempts by outsiders to examine villagers, Acharya said, explaining it was a necessary step for collecting information about alleged health problems.
He was sceptical when told reporters had met a dozen families stricken by deformities, and in particular reviewed the medical records of four children and interviewed their doctors. "Maybe," Acharya said. "Your word, my word."
Company-backed surveys show that compared with outlying areas, "there's no change in disease pattern around Jadugora," said Acharya, 57. "If at all, it is better because of the healthier environment here."