Singrauli, the powerhouse of India with massive coal reserves and many thermal power plants, should have been prosperous. But it is poor and polluted. People complain of unexplained ailments. Non-profit Centre for Science and Environment decided to investigate and found that mercury, a deadly toxin in coal, is slowly entering people’s homes, food, water And even blood…Health problems…are common in the district. Cases of stillbirths, menstrual irregularities, sterility, hyper-pigmentation, anaemia and high blood pressure are high in the region, say people. …residents know the coal mines and the thermal plant are the reasons behind their ailments. What they do not know is exactly how it affects them. [Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited National Thermal Power Corporation, Northern Coalfields Limited & Aditya Birla group to respond. NTPC response below. Northern Coalfields and Aditya Birla have not yet responded - if they do respond we will add their responses here]