AP: Too many industries, too few monitoring staff

VISAKHAPATNAM: The department of factories has a sanctioned strength of 22 inspectors, out of which over 10 posts have been lying vacant. The Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) has a staff strength of 124, while the number of polluting industries in the state is over 9,000, of which over 3,000 come under the ‘red’ category.
These dismal facts have come to light after the recent industrial mishaps in the state, particularly in Jawaharlal Nehru Pharma City (JNPC).The critical components in any industry are reactors, compressors, condensers, boilers and pipelines, and their maintenance is a key factor in mitigating accidents.
The other important factor, which can mitigate human loss, is the holding of mock drills. It is the inspection of these factors, identifying the lapses and communicating them to the management of the factory, which is the job of an inspector, said joint chief inspector of factories D Chandra Sekhar Varma.
It is alleged that the skewed ratio between the number of inspectors and the number of industries has allowed the latter to flout norms with impunity. However, deputy chief inspector of factories, KBS Prasad, said JNPC is a specialised cluster where over 70 pharma companies have been operating. “JNPC, being a sector-specific cluster, has been designed to make hazard risk minimal. It is incorrect to say that safety guidelines were not followed and hence mishaps are being reported in pharma companies. Human error while handling mother-liquid (bulk drugs) is also responsible for the accidents,” he said.
Moreover, in an attempt to sustain themselves, some companies are manufacturing new products as required by clients. “Whenever any industry manufactures new products, it will lead to new chemical reactions and sometimes the employees are not properly trained to understand the reaction,” Prasad added. Meanwhile, collector V Vinay Chand said they have identified over 20 industries (hazardous) and have asked them to conduct mock drills on periodical basis. “We are also collecting data of previous accidents to ensure safety of employees, and people living in the surrounding areas of the industries,” he said.