Gandhinagar, June 27: In a swift move, the government has imposed a blanket ban on the use of benzene by diamond polishing units across Gujarat. This follows reports of four diamond workers from Surat having been diagnosed with aplastic anaemia due to exposure to benzene.

Principal Secretary (Labour and Employment) Vinod Babbar said on Monday that the government, taking a serious view of the Surat incident, had decided to ban the use of benzene by diamond polishing units not only in Surat, but also in other parts of the State. If any of these units was found to be using the hazardous chemical despite the ban, strict action would be initiated against its owner, he warned.

The government has sanctioned Rs 40 lakh to initiate measures to provide occupational safety to workers handling hazardous substances in akik and diamond units, and asbestos, salt manufacturing and other chemical industries across the State. The plan will be implemented with the help of the National Institute of Occupational Health (NIOH).

Babbar said the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health had sent a proposal to the government for approval, under which the NIOH would conduct a state-wide survey to ascertain the adverse effects on the health of workers handling hazardous chemicals in these industries. The amount sanctioned under the project would be utilised on the manpower to be engaged in the survey, protective gear and other essential equipment, besides meeting the expenses of providing honorary wages to staff.