Inde : Hyderabad, la plus grande pharmacie du monde | ARTE Reportage

Summary

The script reveals the devastating impact of pharmaceutical pollution in India, particularly in the southern town of Douabades. Residents, including community leader Pathé, struggle against the industrial contamination affecting their lives and livelihoods. The script details the toxic effects on water and soil, the rise of antibiotic-resistant superbugs, and the health crisis affecting the population. It also discusses the government's ambitious 'Pharma City' project, which promises a cleaner industrial future but is met with resistance from local farmers and environmentalists who fear further ecological and health disasters.

Takeaways

• 🌡️ The script discusses the severe pollution of the Moussy River in India due to industrial pharmaceutical waste, highlighting the health and environmental risks.
• 🏭 It describes the rapid industrialization in the region, with Hyderabad becoming a major pharmaceutical hub in Asia, attracting international companies due to cheap labor and lax environmental regulations.
• 💊 The script emphasizes that a significant portion of the world's generic drugs and vaccines are produced in these factories, contributing to the pollution.
• 😷 The community leader, Pathé, documents the consequences of pollution, including the health issues faced by the local population, such as pulmonary infections and cancer.
• 🐟 The pollution has led to the death of fish and the suffering of fishermen, affecting their livelihoods and causing economic hardship.
• 🚫 The script mentions the lack of effective action from pollution control boards and the government, with no successful legal action taken by the affected communities in 30 years.
• 🤰 The pollution has also caused health issues for women, including miscarriages, and has impacted children's growth and development, leading to physical and psychiatric disorders.
• 🔬 International NGOs like the Dutch Foundation Changing Markets have documented the presence of dangerous chemicals like chromium, arsenic, and nickel in the environment.
• 🌿 The script outlines the human right to clean air, safe food, and potable water, which is being violated due to the pollution.
• 🌱 The proposed 'Pharma City' project is criticized for its potential to exacerbate the environmental and health crisis, with the government's ambitious plans to triple the pharmaceutical industry's size.
• 🛡️ The script ends with the ongoing struggle of local activists and farmers against the 'Pharma City' project, fighting to protect their land and way of life from industrialization and pollution.

Q & A

What is the main issue addressed in the video script?

The main issue addressed is the severe pollution of the Moussy River in India caused by the pharmaceutical industry, leading to significant health and environmental problems for the local population.

Who is Pathé and what is his role in the community?

Pathé is a community leader from Douabades, a small town in southern India. He has been fighting against industrial pollution affecting his region for over 30 years.

What is the significance of the white foam seen on the river?

The white foam is a highly concentrated discharge of pharmaceutical residues, indicating the extreme level of pollution in the river.

What are the consequences of the pollution on the local population as described in the script?

The pollution has led to pulmonary infections, miscarriages, and cancer among the local population. It also affects the livelihoods of fishermen and causes skin conditions in women working by the river.

What is the role of Hyderabad in the pharmaceutical industry?

Hyderabad has become the largest pharmaceutical hub in Asia, housing production facilities for international medical giants due to cheap labor, low taxes, and lax environmental regulations.

What percentage of generic drugs and vaccines are produced in these complexes in Hyderabad?

30% of generic drugs and 40% of vaccines consumed worldwide are manufactured in these complexes.

What is the impact of the pollution on the environment as described in the script?

The pollution has led to the river carrying harmful substances over hundreds of kilometers, causing the death of aquatic life and a thick layer of toxic foam covering the river.

What are the challenges faced by the community in seeking justice for the pollution?

Despite Pathé's efforts to document the pollution's effects and file complaints, there has been no successful legal action or response from the authorities in 30 years.

What is the term 'Pharma City' referring to in the script?

'Pharma City' refers to a massive pharmaceutical industrial project in India, aiming to triple the size of the pharmaceutical sector and make India the top producer of medicines globally.

What are the potential health risks of antibiotic contamination in the river as mentioned in the script?

The presence of antibiotics in the river can lead to the creation of superbugs, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which pose a significant threat to public health and make common treatments ineffective.

What is the stance of the Indian government on the Pharma City project?

The Indian government fully supports the Pharma City project, aiming to make India a leading pharmaceutical producer and promising a new era of clean industry.

What is the opposition's argument against the Pharma City project?

The opposition, including environmental activists and local farmers, argue that the project will cause irreversible environmental damage, displace thousands of people, and potentially repeat the pollution mistakes of the past.