CITU demands arrest of aqua unit officials

Mogalturu (West Godavari): CITU Andhra Pradesh Unit General Secretary former MLA MA Gafoor demanded the government to arrest the Ananda Aqua Processing Unit (Nallamvarithota) immediately for the deaths of five workers last month. It may be recalled that five workers who went into a sump to clean it died of asphyxiation on March 30.

Highlights:

• CITU team visits Nallamvari village, conducts a commemoration meeting at the aqua factory
• Accuses the management of Anand Aqua failing to take precautions for the safety of workers
• Expresses concern over risk posed by the proposed prospect of Godavari Aqua Mega Food Park in Tundurru

Following the series of incidents, the CITU team went to Nallamvari village and conducted a commemoration meeting at the Aqua Factory area on Thursday.CITU Narsapur division committee Secretary Telagamsetty Satyanarayana has presided over the meeting. Speaking on the occasion, the former MLA Gafoor stated that the workers who went into the aqua factory sump to clean it died of asphyxiation due to a release of ammonium gases.“If the management has taken precautionary measures, the lives of five workers could be saved. However, the management did not come forward to rescue the workers.

The management has earned profits by risking the lives of workers”, he said.He pointed out that in Sullurupeta three workers died while went into the Factory tank and in East Godavari, the same situation prevailed in Nekkanti Industry. Gafoor alleged that the Ananda Aqua Processing Unit in Nallamvarithota had permissions up to 10 tonnes. However, violating the norms, it has producing and packing 30tonnes of stock.

He expressed his concern over the aqua processing unit incident and said “Ananda Processing Unit is a small factory. Even then it takes five lives due to the release of ammonium gases in the sump. The same management is constructing the Godavari Aqua Mega Food Park in Tundurru which had hundreds of tonnes capacity.

The people fear for their lives with this park.”The CITU leaders alleged that the industrial effluents are releasing in the Gontheru Canal through pipelines. He warned that if the management failed to pay the compensation within one week the families and villagers will besiege the district Collectorate in Eluru in a week time. He demanded the Government to enhance the compensation to the victim families.

He demanded Rs.25 lakhs should be paid by the management to each family and the government should give Rs.10 lakhs. He also demanded the industrialists to utilise the profits of those industries for the welfare of workers. If any injustice was done to the workers, the CITU won’t tolerate, he warned.

CITU Leader said that even the villagers of Tundurru, Kamsali Bethapudi and Jonnalagaruvu are on an agitating path over three years, the government did not respond to their justified cause. He alleged that the government has trying to oppress the people by using police and official force.

He suggested the Police that not to work as peons to the management and government. CITU District Committee General Secretary DNVD Prasad, CITU Division Secretaries Kavuru Peddiraju, B Vasudeva Rao, Aqua industrial workers union state convenor BV Varma, AIDWA division secretary Pogaku Poorna and others addressing the meeting said that about 40,000 people are eking out their livelihood basing on the Gontheru drain water.

If the Drain polluted, the 41 village’s people lose their employment and also suffer from various ailments. Earlier the leaders paid tributes to the workers Nallam Edukondalu, Thota Srinivasa Rao, Jakkamsetty Praveen, Boddu Rambabu, Eega Yedukondalu who died in the factory incident last month and garlanded the portraits of the deceased.

The meeting observed two minutes silence to mourn the deaths. CITU leaders Kotha Vijaya Kumar, Podila Krishna Murthy, Gudala Sriramamurthy, Kothapalli Nagaraju, Jalli Ramamohan Rao, Yadla Chitti Babu, Bethu Manikyam and others participated in the meeting.