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More than 60 percent of the styrene vapor that leaked Thursday from a tank at LG Polymers near Visakhapatnam, killing at least 11 people, has been polymerized so far and all of the chemical tanks at the plant are safe, it said Friday. District Collector V Vinay Chand.
In a report presented to Prime Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy during a video conference, the Gatherer said it could take 18 to 24 hours for the remaining steam to polymerize, a process to lower the temperature below 20 degrees Celsius where the Styrene remains in its original state. liquid form, and become safe.
“We have taken all measures to completely cover the leak and experts are closely monitoring the situation. The situation is now completely under control, ”added the Collector.
On Thursday, he had said that a technical problem in the refrigeration unit connected to the two styrene tanks at the plant had caused the steam to leak.
“The styrene monomer is normally in a liquid state and is safe below a temperature of 20 degrees Celsius. But due to the malfunction of the refrigeration unit, the chemical began to gasify, “the Collector said yesterday, citing a preliminary report from the Factories Department.
On Friday, Chief Secretary Nilam Sawhney, who was camping in Visakhapatnam overseeing relief measures, also said the situation was fully under control and that all tanks in the unit were safe.
In response to this, the Chief Minister instructed officials to speak to the engineers and explore the steps to fully utilize the raw material and chemicals at the plant.
“Also, take steps to remove the chemicals from the plant to another location,” he said.
Meanwhile, Chief Secretary Nilam Sawhney has issued an order designating a high-level investigation into the causes behind the gas leak and suggesting steps to improve the industrial safety protocol for similar types of plants.
The Special Chief Secretary (Environment and Forests), Neerabh Kumar Prasad, will be its president and the Secretary of the Pollution Control Board, Vivek Yadav, will be the member-coordinator.
The other members will be special CS (Industries), Visakhapatnam District Collector and City Police Commissioner.
“The Committee will investigate the reasons for the leak and verify whether the company adhered to all security protocols.
It will study whether there is any long-term effect of the gas leak in the surrounding villages, “said the chief secretary.
“The Committee will also recommend measures proposed by the government against the unit, in the event of negligence in the steam leak incident in Visakhapatnam,” he added.
The Committee has been asked to submit its report within one month.
Up to 11 people died in the early hours of Thursday from the gas leak that affected about 1,000 people.
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