CPM Demands High-Level Expert Panel To Prevent Blasts in SEZs

 Vijayawada: The CPM demanded a thorough inquiry into the series of accidents in pharmaceutical companies and formation of a high-level expert committee for prevention of such accidents.

CPM state secretary V Srinivasa Rao said they wrote a letter to Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu in this regard. He deplored that four mishaps have occurred in Anakapalli district in last 80 days resulting in heavy loss of lives.

He said the latest mishap is the biggest in the history of the state as it took the lives of 18 people and injured 36 workers who are undergoing treatment in various hospitals. He welcomed the visit of Chandrababu Naidu to the accident site and for interacting with victims and their families.

Srinivasa Rao stated that in Anakapalli district, Paravada, Achyutapuram, Rambilli and Nakkapally mandals have pharmaceutical and other industries in Special Economic Zones. There are 138 dangerous pharma companies engaging 40,000 workers while another 20,000 work in SEZs.

He claimed that accidents occur as inspectors of factories do not conduct safety audits regularly. He recalled that the Chief Minister himself had announced that in last 5 years, there were 119 accidents in the state which claimed 150 lives.

Srinivasa Rao lamented that GO No. 62 dated 28`03`2019 was issued in favour of SEZs hence this GO should be withdrawn immediately.

The Communist leader demanded that in Achyutapuram and other SEZs, 100-bed hospitals be constructed by ESI. MROs should register all migrant workers and continuous inspection of labour department.

Government should take steps to ensure that only permanent workers are employed, safety audit should be conducted in pharmaceutical companies every six months and safety and protection equipment should be given.