The issue of five persons succumbing to poisonous gas while cleaning the effluent tank of Anand Prawn Processing Unit in Mogalturu village of West Godavari district rocked the Legislative Assembly here on the last day of the Budget Session.
The YSR Congress, which moved an adjournment motion on the incident and the developments in the aqua park in West Godavari district, stalled the proceedings until the State Government made a statement in the Assembly on Friday. The YSR Congress MLAs encircled Speaker Kodela Siva Prasada Rao and raised slogans holding placards.
As the repeated requests by the Speaker that the issue could be taken up after question hour went in vain, Government Whip Kaluva Srinivasulu suggested that the Speaker refer the matter to the Privileges Committee. But, it did not deter the YSRC MLAs, and they continued their protest forcing the Chair to adjourn the House twice.
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Magistrerial probe ordered
Minister for Labour, Employment and Factories K. Atchannaidu, who read out the statement, said the government took all the necessary steps promptly as soon as the accident happened. Three Ministers visited the site. A magisterial inquiry has been ordered, while ₹ 25 lakh was paid to the family of each of the victims. Instead of appreciating the government’s gesture, Leader of the Opposition, Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy was finding fault and trying to politicise the issue, he alleged.
A heated exchange took place between the Minister and Mr. Jagan after the statement. Mr Jagan said it was very clear from the government statement that the prawn processing unit was releasing effluents into the Gomtheru drain since its inception in 2014. But the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board took cognisance of the pollution only in 2016. The Minister said that deaths were caused because of poor safety measures and not pollution.
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The discussion became a personal squabble between Mr. Atchannaidu and Mr. Jagan, when the latter pointed out a mistake made by the Minister, and both hurled challenges at each other. When Mr. Jagan told the Minister to get his English right Mr. Atchannaidu retorted saying that he went to an ordinary school and learnt sitting on the floor because his family could not afford a good school.
Mr. Jagan said Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu should resign if Mr. Atchannaidu could not prove certain allegations about his education. Mr. Atchannaidu retorted saying Mr. Jagan should stop comparing himself with Mr. Naidu because he did not even measure up to him.