In light of the LG Polymers disaster that occurred in 2020, it has come to attention that the Visakhapatnam district, which was previously known as erstwhile, lacks an off-site emergency plan despite the presence of 29 major hazardous industries in the area. Incidents of fire mishaps have persisted post-2020, highlighting the urgent need for an off-site emergency plan to mitigate the risks posed by these industries. The existing plan, last updated in 2007, was subject to an attempt to enhance its effectiveness in 2021 through the engagement of an external agency for a fee of 13.5 lakh. Regrettably, the recommendations provided by the agency have not yet been implemented.
To address this gap in preparedness, the District Crisis Group convened a meeting chaired by the district collector on July 16. During this meeting, the responsibility of developing an off-site emergency plan to manage potential industrial mishaps was delegated to officials from the factories department, with a three-month timeline set for its completion.
With the government led by TD envisioning the transformation of Visakhapatnam into the financial hub of Andhra Pradesh, there is a renewed focus on ensuring the safety of industrial zones within the city. Recent incidents of fire mishaps in industrial units and pharmaceutical hubs have underscored the urgency of this matter. Over the past four years, the district has witnessed two industrial fire incidents and four such incidents in Parawada, Atchutapuram, and Anakapalli.
Tragic events, such as the explosion of a chemical compound at Atchutapuram SEZ resulting in the loss of 17 lives, and another blast at a pharmaceutical unit in Jawaharlal Nehru Pharma City claiming three lives, have further emphasized the need for robust emergency preparedness measures. Following the district’s restructuring, Visakhapatnam and Anakapalli have been identified as critical areas due to the presence of 17 and 12 major hazardous industries, respectively. Plans are underway to develop separate, region-specific emergency strategies for both districts.
Industry sources have recommended that the costs associated with preparing the off-site emergency plan be borne by the major hazardous industries alongside licensing fees. It is imperative that the plan is regularly updated to accommodate the emergence of new industrial units in the districts over time. J. Siva Sankar Reddy, the joint chief inspector of factories in Visakhapatnam, has assured that efforts are underway to swiftly develop the off-site emergency plan, focusing on identifying high-risk industrial units, ensuring maintenance checks, guaranteeing the functionality of alarm systems during emergencies, and providing comprehensive training to workers to enhance overall safety measures.
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