Visakhapatnam: Locals want closure of LG Polymers

Visakhapatnam: The pent-up anger of the people of RR Venkatapuram and surrounding villages burst out on Saturday. Scores of them on Saturday staged a protest at LG Polymers demanding the closure of the plant with immediate effect. The agitated locals were in no mood to pay heed to the cops' repeated requests to calm down and tried to barge into the plant, climbing the wall of the plant to enter LG Polymers. Raising slogans, they expressed their ire against the management who failed to respond to them so far. Meanwhile, ambulances carrying three dead bodies of the gas leak victims arrived from the King George Hospital mortuary for cremation to the burial ground. 

The irate locals carried the dead bodies and placed them right in front of the main gate of the company while staging the protest.

They also tried to break open the main gate of the plant to gain access to the plant's management as the locals allege that the apathy of the management was the reason behind their agitation. The police had no other choice but resort to lathi-charge to bring the situation under control.

A woman fell at the feet of DGP D Gautam Sawang, who visited the plant, pleading justice for the locals.

The villagers also stopped the Ministers who arrived at the plant to take stock of the situation. Tourism Minister M Srinivasa Rao, Minister for Labour and Employment G Jayaram and Minister of Roads and Buildings Dharmana Krishna Das, Commissioner of Police RK Meena along with others intervened and tried to convince the villagers.

The Ministers assured the locals that the government was keen on protecting them and action would be initiated based on the report submitted by the high-power committee which would consider their opinions as well. Later, the three dead bodies were shifted to the burial ground for cremation.

Along with the locals, TDP West MLA PGVR Naidu, CPI state assistant secretary JV Satyanarayana, CPM and Congress party members joined the protest.

Meanwhile, the LG Polymers management issued a statement mentioning that the situation at the plant was brought under control and a special task force was formed to help victims and their families to resolve issues and extend assistance to the bereaved families. It further stated that an effective care package would be brought out soon for the benefit of the locals and work towards resolving the issues.