Gas leak probe panel commissions risk profile of hazardous industry in Visakhapatnam
Visakhapatnam: Over the next few weeks, all potentially hazardous industries in and around Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh will have to submit a proper risk profile of themselves and submit it to the city's civic agencies.
A high-power committee set up by the state government to study issues behind the styrene vapour leak at the LG Polymers factory in Visakhapatnam last month met on Monday and directed civic agencies to compile a thorough risk analysis of industries within city limits.
The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporaton (GVMC) and the Visakhapatnam Metropolitican Region Development Authority (VMRDA) will have to identify all red category industries located within their jurisdiction with the help of the director of factories and the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control board (APPCB).
The output of the exercise is to demarcate localities vulnerable to industrial risk.
A styrene vapour leak from the L G Polymers unit at Venkatapalam locality near Vizag led to the death of more than a dozen people on May 7. Industrial accidents are a frequent occurrence in Vizag given its concentration of industries in the pharmaceutical, chemical, metal and oil sectors.
The committee took testimony from officials of various departments on their response during the gas leak last month. The agencies that deposed included revenue, police, healthcare, GVMC and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). The officials narrated the situation on their arrival at the accident site and how they rescued residents.
The committee had a detailed discussion with the GVMC commissioner and officials from VMRDA, the Factories Department and APPCB on the location of hazardous industries in the city. They spoke about development plan, land use pattern and safety issues.
However, they have not provided more information about the accident and no strict action has been taken against the company after accident. Special chief secretary to government Neerabh Kumar Prasad, special chief secretary to the government for industries and commerce R Karikal Valaven, Visakhapatnam district collector Vinay Chand, police commissioner R K Meena and APPCB member secretary Vivek Yadav were present in the meeting.
