Ranchi, March 25: Hard to believe, but a recent study revealed that the average life span of women in East Parej coal field is 45 years.

The survey conducted by city-based geologist Nitish Priyadarshi and a fellow member of Geological Survey of India also revealed that in North Karanpura coal field average life span of a male is 50 years.

Due to extensive coal mining in the mentioned areas the water has got contaminated.

Priyadarshi claims in the report: “Phulmani Kujur a 38-year-old woman of East Parej coal field and other villagers told me that they avoid taking bath everyday. They also do not drink water adequately due to water pollution.”

“Many children suffer from dysentery and diarrhoea. About 60 per cent of the local people are affected with seasonal allergies. Other diseases found were tuberculosis, headache, joint pain (it begins at the age of five to 10 years, especially in North Karanpura), gastric, cough and cold and asthma,” said Priyadarshi.

Likewise, in the health survey conducted among the boys and girls in a local school it was found that majority of the children (both tribal and non-tribal) were lethargic. It might be due to inhalation of coal dust and consumption of contaminated water, he deduced.

Priyadarshi also claimed that in the coal fields of Jharkhand most of the tribal women were employed in secondary activities such as loading and unloading of coal.

“According to Chhotanagpur Adivasi Seva Samiti — an NGO working in Hazaribagh district, it is dust pollution and contamination of water and air which poses severe health hazards for women workers,” said Priyadarshi.

“Majority of the women workers are contract labourers and paid on daily wage basis. There is no economic security or compensation paid due to loss of workdays on account of health problems. Even pregnant women have to work under these conditions,” the geologist added.