Two hundred and twelve factories were closed down at one time. When the factories are closed down because they are not controlling pollution, the management tells the workers that they will be losing their jobs. But the Court has many times said that it is not workers' fault when a factory is required to close until it installs pollution control devices. The Court has also said that no worker will go unemployed, that they must be paid all their wages while the factory is closed. The pollution is also affecting the health of the workers.
Management is totally irresponsible in seeing that health and safety requirements are observed.
As a result, occupational diseases in this country have increased manyfold in recent years. I am concerned about the health of the people. When I address the Court, I say that pollution is not only affecting the people living in the factories' vicinity but it is also affecting the health of the workers. I am not only fighting for the people who are living in the residential areas, I am also fighting for the workers. If the industry cannot put up for another six months, it should pay - because it is not the fault of the workers.