LG Polymer tragedy haunts Vizagites

Visakhapatnam THE horrifying scenes of women and children lying down unconscious on roads are still afresh in memory.

Even as the toxic vapour cloud leakage at the South Korea's LG Polymers' plant in Visakhapatnam on May 7, 2020 completes a year, fear still stalks various areas of the city.

Home for several hazardous, chemical and process plants with the sea in many cases turning into an outlet for discharge of untreated effluents, the city sits on a powder keg. Visakhapatnam has a topography resembling a bowl with spoon-shaped hill ranges on three sides and sea on the other leaving no scope for escape in the event of a major catastrophe.

After the LGP incident, multiple probes found fault with the management of the chemical plant for malfunctioning of the cooling system of the storage tanks which kept styrene monomer.

The Government of Andhra Pradesh immediately paid a compensation of Rs 1 crore to the families of all the 11 persons who died in the incident. Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy immediately ordered shutdown of the plant, free treatment to all injured and criminal prosecution of the management.

With special permission from the Ministry of Shipping, 13,000 tonnes of unused styrene monomer was sent back in two ships to Seoul.

Experts from National Disaster Relief Force Anjan Ray and Shantanu Geete, National Green Tribunal and others confirmed serious lapses in storage facilities of LG Polymers. Even after a year, fear is palpable in Venkatapuram and few other neighborhoods of Gopalapatnam, a thriving city suburb.

"The promised super speciality hospital has not come yet in the vicinity even as the survivors are apprehensive of Corona and complications following impact on their lungs," G. Venkat Reddy, a former LGP employee and activist told Bizz Buzz.

The fatal LGP gas leak accident took place almost a year ago. It was followed by one similar accident, though of a minor magnitude, at a unit in Pharma City at Parawada, when two persons lost their lives.

Social activist and former IAS officer EAS Sarma says the expert committee on LGP as well as the NGT in the case of the Parawada unit suggested a comprehensive safety audit of all hazardous industries. Till date, promoters of LGP, who ought to bear the full liability of the accident have got away with a nominal interim liability penalty, without bearing the full liability.

The State should not have allowed LGP to take away the huge styrene stock without depositing its value equivalent with the State towards future attachment. The criminal cases against LGP do not seem to have progressed much, he said. "Comprehensive safety audit for the Vizag unit is yet to be taken up. Not a single senior official of the State industrial safety wing has been proceeded against. In other words, we have not cared to learn lessons yet.

This callousness may result in similar accidents taking place in the future," he opined.