Visakhapatnam: Gas tragedy victims seek health cards, hi-tech hospital

Visakhapatnam: As part of the second day of investigation, the High-Power Committee (HPC) met LG Polymers' gas leak survivors from Venkatadri Garden, Venkatapuram, Kamparapalem, Padmanabhanagar, Nandmuri Nagar, Srinagar, RR Venkatapuram, SC-BC Colony at GVMC hall.

The residents of Venkatapuram village informed the committee their village has been severely affected and need better compensation. While residents of other affected villagers requested the HPC to provide them permanent health cards, setting up of multi-specialty hospital and employment opportunities for 500 people, who lost jobs in the factory apart from the company's shift.

Later, the HPC members including special chief secretaries Neerabh Kumar Prasad and R Karikal Valaven, District Collector V Vinay Chand, Commissioner of Police R K Meena and member secretary of AP Pollution Control Board Vivek Yadav also met representatives of various political parties including MLAs Vasupalli Ganesh Kumar, P G V R Naidu, V Ramakrishna, J V Satyanarayana Murthy of CPI state assistant secretary, among others and held discussions.

The representatives of the parties informed that LG Polymers did not conduct any mock drill and operated without environmental clearance. They requested to cancel company's licence and shift it from the densely populated area. Further, they demanded compensation for crop damages and stop fish catch at Megadrigedda till the water is tested.

The HPC also held detailed enquiry about styrene vapour leak with the plant's management. The committee members, enquired about the issues related to standard operating procedures regarding operation of refrigeration system, polymer content in styrene, temperature maintenance, etc. They also enquired about the design particulars of styrene storage tank, onsite emergency plan, and emergency preparedness of company.

Meanwhile, Opposition parties held a protest near GVMC, demanding to shift the plant amid tight police security. A woman protestor lost consciousness followed by prolonged exposure to scorching heat. She was shifted on a stretcher for treatment.