Supreme Court has directed Gujarat government to provide the compensation of three lakh rupees each to the families of 238 workers who died of silicosis. These workers died after working in the quartz industries the state. The Apex court has ordered to pay the compensation within a month period. <br/><br/>A bench comprising justices Kurian Joseph and R F Nariman also asked the Madhya Pradesh government to immediately rehabilitate another 304 ailing patients. Meanwhile, the court has asked the Chairperson of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to personally appear before it on May 11, the next date of hearing.<br/><br/> Silicosis is an occupational hazards for certain industrial workers. According to sources, all other states – Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry – have paid compensation to the victims in similar cases except Gujarat.