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Subas Byastik, age 16

Jamshila Bina, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh, India
Subas Byastik, 16 years old. When he was twelve Subas noticed cracks on the inside of his hands. Now four years later his hands are wasting away and turning black. He does not work because he cannot use his hands properly. As we talked he started to cry. The local doctors have no answers and he can’t afford other healthcare. What we know is that he lives near a number of thermal electric plants in the region and that it and the water supply to his village is polluted, most likely with heavy metals. This area is known as the “Energy Capital of India” because after large coal deposits were found many thermal power stations opened. Chemical plants and other industrial operations also came to the area.

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Copyright: 2017 Joanna B Pinneo
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Jamshila Bina, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh, India<br />
Subas Byastik, 16 years old. When he was twelve Subas noticed cracks on the inside of his hands. Now four years later his hands are wasting away and turning black. He does not work because he cannot use his hands properly. As we talked he started to cry. The local doctors have no answers and he can’t afford other healthcare. What we know is that he lives near a number of thermal electric plants in the region and that it and the water supply to his village is polluted, most likely with heavy metals. This area is known as the “Energy Capital of India” because after large coal deposits were found many thermal power stations opened. Chemical plants and other industrial operations also came to the area.