Chennai: The Vetrivel Explosives Ltd in T. Murungapatti village in Tiruchy where a fire mishap claimed the lives of 19 workers in December last, has been closed as it had violated safety and pollution norms.
Stating that the factory was ordered to be closed in December last, environment and pollution control minister K.C. Karuppannan indicated that the establishment faced permanent closure, replying to the issue raised in the Assembly House on Wednesday by Thuraiyur MLA S. Stalinkumar, in whose constituency the explosives unit falls.
The factory’s licence was suspended after the December 1 explosion. It may be recalled that a couple of months before the explosion, the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO), raising issues of safety, wrote that the factory’s PETN unit had committed six violations and should immediately follow the recommendations.
“On Decemebr 16, following the department’s action, the power supply to the factory was disconnected and it was recommended to close down the factory. Till date the factory has not been functioning,” Karuppanan added.
When the legislator sought to know if the government would provide relief, revenue minister R.B. Udayakumar replied that steps would be taken to provide relief to the affected. There were 15 mini-units in the factory that manufactures explosives for deepening and widening wells in the rocky belts.
