JAGDISH PATEL
Godhara is known for stone crushing units. Way back,in 1980-81, Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) requested the National Institute of Occupational
Health (NIOH) to conduct a study of ambient air in the Godhara GIDC area. The NIOH team visited the area and suggested that a study of the stone workplaces instead of ambient air was more important. GIDC accepted the suggestion. NIOH’s study found a very high amount
of silica dust, total and respirable. The report noted that dust levels were so high that silicosis could be contracted after only six months exposure! Following this report Professor Upendra Bakshi, then Vice-Chancellor of South Gujarat University through Girish Patel, a local human rights lawyer, filed public interest litigation in Gujarat High
Court. Later, compensation claims were filed but none is known to have received compensation. Later the then Factory Inspector, after retiring, told me that he had identified 1,000 cases of silicosis in villages around Godhara.

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