By SNV Sudhir
Visakhapatnam, April 7, 2013: A string of industrial accidents in this region has raised serious concerns, yet the local office of the directorate of factories that is responsible for ensuring industrial safety is short-staffed.
There are only two inspectors of factories for the four circles in the three north Andhra districts. They are supposed to inspect all medium and large-scale industries once a year, and factories working with hazardous materials twice a year.
There are only two inspectors of factories for the four circles in the three north Andhra districts. They are supposed to inspect all medium and large-scale industries once a year, and factories working with hazardous materials twice a year.
Vizag district alone has 1.18 lakh people working in 1,095 industries. Vizag was also identified as a critically polluted area by the Central Pollution Control Board and a moratorium was mooted on greenfield and brownfield projects as the city is located in a ‘bowl’ and there is no escape route in the event of a major disaster.
Vizag’s Circle II inspector was given additional charge of Circle I (Urban) which has mostly public sector units (PSUs). There are around 75 medium and major PSUs in Vizag district alone.
The Srikakulam district inspector of factories was given additional charge of Viziangaram.
The Srikakulam district inspector of factories was given additional charge of Viziangaram.
Industries are located on the outskirts of Vizag within a 70-km radius. Apart from being too few in numbers to deal with the burgeoning number of industries, the inspectors are given meagre facilities. For example, they are not allowed to travel in four-wheelers, and they have to depend on their own two-wheelers. The Vizag circle office doesn’t even have sufficient sub-staff like a clerk or even an attender.
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