Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB). (Image: DC)
Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) has found that a shrimp peeing unit is functioning without obtaining the mandatory ‘Consent to Operate’ (CTO) certificate and has been summoned to appear before it shortly. Recently, 35 workers fell ill in the shrimp peeling unit owned by Divyasri Marine leased out to Royal Marine Impex and located at Gokarna Matam village in Bapatla district after the spread of chlorine vapour. The gas leakage happened due to the chemical reaction while cleaning the drainage with sodium hypochlorite and hydrochloric acid.
On Nov. 2, the PCB authorities served a show cause notice to the unit and conducted a preliminary inquiry. They noticed the unit lacked the ‘license’ to operate as it did not take CTO. Moreover, the authorities are also taking up inquiries to find out any violation of provisions of the Air Act, 1981, and the Water Act, 1974, as they deal with pollution of air and water during the operation of the unit and also the release of any effluents.
The management of the shrimp unit has been summoned to appear before the APPCB’s Monitoring Committee in the presence of its member secretary to explain the circumstances leading to the mishap and violation of norms. Though the shrimp unit authorities were supposed to appear before the Monitoring Committee on Nov. 8, it has been deferred for some reasons and they will inform on the date to appear before the panel soon.
Ongole PCB environmental engineer G. Raghava Reddy said, “We have carried out an inquiry at the shrimp unit concerning the mishap and submitted a report to our authorities. Meanwhile, the department of factories, which is the main department to keep a tab on the functioning of the shrimp unit regarding safety aspects, will be serving a show cause notice shortly. Based on the reply, the authorities will take action accordingly.”
Bapatla deputy chief inspector of factories K. Parameswara Rao said, “Based on our preliminary findings at the shrimp unit, chemical reaction causing the release of chlorine vapour caused the workers to fall sick after inhaling such noxious gas.” The factory authorities say that once they get a reply for the show cause notice, they will act accordingly like issuing an order to stop work for a certain period and directions will be issued to set right the lapses at the unit.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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