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Posted: May 9, 2020 11:26:29 AM
Two days after a gas leak at a chemical plant in Visakhapatnam Killing 11 people and affecting more than 1,000, former Andhra Pradesh Prime Minister Chandrababu Naidu wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday seeking the formation of a committee of scientific experts to investigate the matter.
At least 11 people are dead. and hundreds became ill after gas leaked from the LG Polymers plant in Gopalapatnam on the outskirts of Visakhapatnam on Thursday. The plant was preparing for reopening after closure.
In a letter, he noted that the Center’s swift response had brought comfort and confidence to the people of the state and called for an investigation into the incident.
At many points, Naidu sought the creation of a committee of scientific experts to investigate the entire matter. He also sought that there should be close monitoring of air quality in and around Vizag to understand the present and future impact of the gas.
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Naidu also called on the Prime Minister to contact certain national and international health experts to assess people’s health, and consequently take immediate and long-term health measures. He added that this step would help provide compensation to affected people.
Meanwhile, in response to reports of a second leak at the LG Polymers plant, the Interior Ministry said on Friday it was a tiny technical leak, adding that the second leak was necessary to control the container. He also said that the leak was under control and that the neutralization process had begun.
Read | Vizag gas leak: everything you need to know about the LG polymer factory
“This makes it clear that this is a tiny technical leak. Putting the container in control is required. It has been controlled and the neutralization process is already in progress, ”said the MHA.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued a notice to the Andhra Pradesh government and the Center on Thursday about the incident.
Read | Vizag gas leak: no green nod, company told state in May
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy announced compensation of Rs 1 crore each to the relatives of the dead, in addition to offering Rs 20,000 each to owners who had lost their animals. He also promised work to people who are victims of the gas leak and relatives of the family of the dead.
At least 2,000 people in five villages located within a 5 km radius of the factory owned by the multinational LG Chem were affected, and several fell unconscious with respiratory difficulties.
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