Nagarjuna Agrichem Limited sought permission from the government for ‘safe shutdown’ of various units in the plant. The company feared that complete closure of the plant at this juncture might lead to pollution and release of gases from effluent treatment plant (EFT) and other units.
The company officials could not enter the premises after the blast and gas leak from the plant on Saturday, with the widespread agitations by locals for the complete closure of all the operations.
The AP Pollution Control Board, which has already served a notice on the company asking it to stop operations, has disconnected electricity connection to the company. Company Vice-President (Corporate-Human Potential Development) S. Chandrasekhar Rao on Tuesday told media that safe shutdown of all the operations was need of the hour to avoid further complications.
“After the blast, everything was left in a disorganised manner. So, the company has sought permission from the government for safe shutdown of all the operations in the interests of the public as well as the company,” he said.
Meanwhile, agitations against the company continued, and locals insisted that there should not by further operations as the company polluted both groundwater and air in and around 18 villages in Etcherla, Leveru and Ponduru mandals. CPI(M) Srikakulam district secretariat members K. Srinivasa Rao, Panchadi Paparao and K. Narayana Rao alleged that the government was extending full support to the industries taking the plea that they were providing employment.
“Roads and Buildings Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao is directly supporting industrialisation ignoring the fact that many of them are polluting the environment in the district. The Minister, instead, should extend support to the people,” Mr. Papa Rao said.
