Local politician Suresh Handsa says rice production has fallen because padi are contaminated . The mine operators also dump dry tailings at the site. Occasionally they contain what villagers say is yellow cake - though why so precious and potent a substance should be thrown out has not been explained. Whatever the truth of that, a doctor attached to nearby Jamshedpur's Tata Main Hospital has no doubt about the consequences of the mine's operations. The doctor asked not to be named.
Miners complain that safety standards are ignored in the pits and in the processing unit.
Workers are sometimes not supplied with respirators for handling and cleaning the yellow cake. JOAR alleges that in these circumstances, employees could be inhaling uranium dust and radon gas. International guidelines say staff at uranium plants should be issued with protective clothing. But miners and loaders at Jaduguda wear ordinary cotton uniforms provided by the company. They take these uniforms home for washing.