Visakhapatnam: HPCL drew criticism for making 'elaborate' arrangements to distribute cheques to the families of those who died in the blast, at its Visakh refinery, on August 23 last year.
A solemn programme was organised. With the polls just a few months away from, there was a host of elected representatives seen on the dais, during the programme.
Along with the concerned, Union minister, Panabaka Lakshmi, MLAs Muttamsety, Chintalapudi Venkataramaiah, Malla Vijay Prasad, ports and infrastructure minister, Ganta Srinivasa Rao, RS member and Parliamentary standing committee on environment and forests T. Subbarami Reddy took part.
The HPCL management made elaborate arrangements for the programme where cheques were distributed to aggrieved families of those workers who lost their lives in the blast.
“How can we make a simple arrangement when our concerned Union minister is attending? That’s why we made it a big event,” said an HPCL official.
At least two reports of the investigation into the blast that claimed 28 lives, nailed the HPCL management for the mishap, but the Union minister has given a clean chit to the HPCL authorities.
Talking before distributing the cheques to the families of the deceased, here on Thursday Lakshmi said, “Reports said that HPCL management is not at fault for the mishap. But it’s an unfortunate incident.”
The Oil Industry Safety Directorate (OISD) which probed into the mishap has found at least 13 lapses on the part of the HPCL-Visakha refinery management.
Investigations by joint chief inspector of factories, D Chandrasekhar Varma, also revealed that HPCL failed to follow standard safety procedures. He also issued a show cause notice to the HPCL authorities. Probe further revealed that HPCL failed to ensure complete evacuation of the workers.
HPCL blast victim’s families get compensation finally
Visakhapatnam: Families of the workers who died in the Cooling Tower blast in HPCL Visakh refinery on August 23, last year finally got the compensation cheques of Rs 20 lakh each on Thursday.
Twenty eight workers died in the mishap out of which one was an employee of HPCL and rest were contract workers. Of the 27, 16 are locals and 11 non locals.
The cheques were given to the families of 15 victims on Thursday.
Handing over cheques to the kin of victims, Union minister of state for petroleum and natural gas, Panabaka Lakshmi said that nowhere in the country that such a big amount has been given to contract workers as compensation.
Rajya Sabha member T. Subbarami Reddy sought job for a family member of victims’ families.
Ports and infrastructure minister, Ganta Srinivas Rao lamented at the poor safety standards in the industries here whereas there are very less industry mishaps in Hyderabad which has more industrial units compared to Vizag.
HPCL Visakh refinery, executive director, V.V. Narasimham said they had now adapted the slogan “no safety no job” for the benefit of the workers.
