The Kymore asbestos case has come under renewed scrutiny after the Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board’s Chief Scientific Officer questioned regional officers over their decision to send soil samples to the Board’s central laboratory instead of testing them at the regional level.
The samples were collected from Kymore in Katni district and sent to the central laboratory by local officers. In a communication circulated to all regional officers, the Chief Scientific Officer sought an explanation for the decision, according to the report. The move has placed the sampling and testing process in the sensitive asbestos matter under examination.
Sources cited in the report said the regional laboratories have the facilities required to conduct such tests. They also raised concerns that transporting samples over long distances could affect results if preservation, packaging, handling and transport protocols are not followed strictly. Whether the Kymore samples have been compromised can be established only through technical assessment and laboratory procedures, the sources said.
The issue has emerged alongside a formal complaint received by the pollution control board from a UK-based resident, Rajnikant, seeking an immediate investigation into alleged asbestos pollution in Kymore and the possible risks to public health and the environment. The complaint raises concerns about potential impacts on residents, workers, animals, food supplies and the surrounding environment.
Rajnikant has asked the authorities to conduct an on-site inspection and scientific testing wherever necessary. The complaint seeks an inquiry into whether asbestos or asbestos-containing materials are being used, stored, processed, transported or disposed of in the area, and whether these activities comply with safety regulations and statutory requirements.
It also asks for air, soil and water testing, where warranted, to determine whether asbestos fibres or dust may be spreading to nearby residential areas, shops, workplaces, agricultural land, livestock or food items. The complainant has further sought verification of permissions, licences and environmental clearances connected with asbestos-related activities, along with an examination of occupational health and safety compliance for workers and nearby residents.
If violations are established, the complaint seeks corrective measures including safe handling and storage, clean-up of affected areas and safe disposal of hazardous material. Rajnikant has stated that photographs, documents and other evidence were attached to the complaint and has requested written confirmation of its receipt and details of action taken.
Kymore has a long industrial association with asbestos. The town in Katni district has been dealing with the legacy of India’s first asbestos factory, established in 1933. A 2016 assessment by Canadian environmental consultancy ECOH Management documented asbestos contamination in parts of Kymore and nearby Kalhara, including residential yards, agricultural fields and playing areas.
The laboratory findings and any inspection by competent authorities will determine whether asbestos contamination exists and whether further regulatory action is warranted. The Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board’s official response to the complaint is awaited.
