Hyderabad: AP Deputy Chief Minister and home minister N. Chinna Rajappa alleged that the pipeline blast at Nagaram in East Godavari which claimed 20 lives was a result of the negligence of officials of Gas Authority of India.
Speaking to media at the Secretariat on Tuesday the home minister said that locals had noticed the leakage in pipeline and informed Gail officials, but they did not act immediately. He said in the incident property worth about Rs 1crore was lost. He said while 20 persons had died in the incident, 1,200 coconut trees were charred and houses, cattle, birds also suffered burns.
He said that Rs 25 lakh compensation was given to families of each of the deceased, while Gail promised a job to one person of each family. He said it was the first time there was loss of life in such an incident.
The state government has taken a serious view of the incident and has warned Gail and ONGC authorities to ensure such incidents do not happen in future failing which stringent action will be taken, he said.
The oil companies have been suggested to appoint personnel to check the pipelines every day as also to construct pipelines along the coastal line instead of through villages. He said that they have also instructed GAIL to construct a hospital and a fire station.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that they had thought the area would be developed after GAIL set up operations but no development has taken place in the last 25 years. In response to a question the Home Minister said that he has ordered higher officials to get information about the custodial deaths in Prakasam and Anantapur districts.
