Vizag Gas Leak: LG Polymers Will Not Be Allowed To Continue As Before, Says Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister

The polymer plant at the centre of the Vizag gas leak incident will not be allowed to function as it used to in the past, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jaganmohan Reddy said Monday.

Eleven people were killed and thousands others were evacuated after they inhaled the toxic styrene gas that leaked from LG Polymers India Pvt. Ltd.’s plant in Visakhapatnam. The parent organisation of the firm, South Korea’s LG Chem Ltd., has since apologised for the incident and shifted styrene monomer units from the plant to Seoul.

Investigations are on to identify the culprits of the gas leak.

Reddy, however, blamed his predecessor, N Chandrababu Naidu, for the tragedy, saying that the government led by him gave permission to the company for expansion.

"We will not spare anybody. Whoever is responsible for the incident, action will certainly be taken against them,” Reddy said during a video conference with officials and a few of those affected by the gas leak. “Once we get reports from all committees, including those constituted by the centre, we will seek answers from the company. The answers will be examined by the experts.”

"Whatever action is recommended by the committees, those proceedings will be implemented transparently. We will not allow such a situation that the company will undertake the same activities at the same location in future. That is why that raw material, styrene, has also been sent back," Reddy said.

Also Read: Civil And Criminal Process That Ought To Follow The Vizag Gas Leak

There had been an unequivocal demand from people in the affected region that the plant be completely shutdown as it posed a threat to their lives.

The state government has announced Rs 1 crore to the kin of the deceased as ex-gratia and different packages to victims depending on the severity of ailments.