NewsClick

NewsClick
  • हिन्दी
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Covid-19
  • Science
  • Culture
  • India
  • International
  • Sports
  • Articles
  • Videos
search
menu

INTERACTIVE ELECTION MAPS

image/svg+xml
  • All Articles
  • Newsclick Articles
  • All Videos
  • Newsclick Videos
  • हिन्दी
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Science
  • Culture
  • India
  • Sports
  • International
  • Africa
  • Latin America
  • Palestine
  • Nepal
  • Pakistan
  • Sri Lanka
  • US
  • West Asia
About us
Subscribe
Follow us Facebook - Newsclick Twitter - Newsclick RSS - Newsclick
close menu
×
For latest updates on nCOVID-19 around the world visit our INTERACTIVE COVID MAP
Politics
India

Lapses by LG Polymers Management Caused Styrene Gas Leakage, Says NGT Committee

NGT committee report stated that the root cause appears to be the lack of experience of LG Polymers India and their Korean principal LG Chem, in monitoring and maintaining full tanks of styrene that were idled for a long period of several weeks without operation.
Newsclick Report
30 May 2020
Lapses by LG Polymers Management Caused Styrene Gas Leakage, Says NGT Committee

Image Courtesy: The News Minute

A joint monitoring committee appointed by National Green Tribunal (NGT) to probe the Styrene gas leakage incident from LG Polymers Ltd near R R Venkatapuram in Visakhapatnam on May 7 has pointed out numerous reasons that caused the gas leakage due to which 12 people died and thousands of people were hospitalised. 

“Our observations revealed that the management did not take proper care of the affected storage tank and it resulted in auto polymerisation of styrene releasing excess heat which escaped from the goose-neck and dip hatch in the form of vapour,” stated the committee. 

The committee was led by former High Court judge B. Seshasayana Reddy, with members Ch.V. Rama Chandra Murthy, former Principal of Andhra Medical College, P. Jagannadha Rao, professor of chemical engineering in Andhra University, K.V. George, Scientist at NEERI-Nagpur, and Shaik Basha, Scientist and Head of CSIR-NEERI, Hyderabad. 

The committee found five lapses that caused the leakage—insufficient Tertiary Butyl Catechol (TBC) concentration in styrene tank due to unavailability of TBC in the plant (TBC is used as inhibitor to avoid polymerisation at low temperatures), no monitoring system for dissolved oxygen in the vapour space which might have fallen down below 6%, the tank has no provision of monitoring temperatures at top layers of the storage, refrigeration system was not being operated for 24 hours and gross human failure and negligence of the person in-charge of the plant and maintenance personnel of the storage tank. 

An estimated, 800 tons of styrene escaped into the surroundings in the incident. The committee stated that the root cause appears to be the lack of experience of LG Polymers India and their Korean principal LG Chem, in monitoring and maintaining full tanks of styrene that were idled for a long period of several weeks without operation. 

Suggesting remedial measures to prevent recurrence of such incidents, the experts noted: “The styrene metabolites are of genotoxic and can cause carcinogenic health impacts to the population exposed based on different factors. It is suggested that the industry shall prepare a comprehensive health monitoring programme along with reputed hospitals for the suspected population at least for five years. Based on the data and health results of the study, the monitoring may be continued. The district administration shall monitor the whole programme for its proper implementation.”

NGT has taken suo moto cognizance of the incident and on May 8, and ordered LG Polymers management to deposit Rs 50 crore with the district magistrate of Visakhapatnam. The case

The state government has announced a compensation of Rs 1 crore to each of the families of victims who died in the incident, Rs 10 lakh to each of the severely affected persons getting ventilator-based treatment, Rs 1 lakh each to those persons who will need hospital care for next two-three days and Rs 25,000 each to all those hospitalised for primary care. 

Also read:Maharashtra: COVID-19 Forces Iconic Festivals in the State to Find a Lower Key

Get the latest reports & analysis with people's perspective on Protests, movements & deep analytical videos, discussions of the current affairs in your Telegram app. Subscribe to NewsClick's Telegram channel & get Real-Time updates on stories, as they get published on our website.
LG Polymers
Styrene gas Leakage
Visakhapatnam
NGT
Joint Monitoring Committee
TBC
LG Chem
polymerisation
Related Stories
‘People Will Not Allow Centre to Privatise Vizag Steel Plant,’ Say Unions

‘People Will Not Allow Centre to Privatise Vizag Steel Plant,’ Say Unions

Neyveli Boiler Blast: NGT Tells Centre to Conduct Safety Audit of All Thermal Power Stations in 6 Months

Neyveli Boiler Blast: NGT Tells Centre to Conduct Safety Audit of All Thermal Power Stations in 6 Months

2020: Vizag’s Deadly Year of Industrial Accidents

2020: Vizag’s Deadly Year of Industrial Accidents

UAPA

Rights Organisations Demand Quashing of UAPA, Sedition Charges Against Activists

‘Passed Without our Consent or Scrutiny

‘Passed Without our Consent or Scrutiny’: Environment Experts Slam Bhagirathi Zonal Master Plan

NGT Seeks Ban on Mining Minor Minerals After Killing of Forest Guard in Sariska

NGT Seeks Ban on Mining Minor Minerals After Killing of Forest Guard in Sariska

The defunct Union Carbide plant in Bhopal/M RAJSHEKHAR

India Is Back To A Time Before The Bhopal Gas Tragedy

Assam Baghjan Well Fire: NGT Rejects Objections Raised by Oil India

Assam Baghjan Well Fire: NGT Rejects Objections Raised by Oil India

Visakhapatnam: 29 People Killed in Industrial Accidents in Past 3 Months

Visakhapatnam: 29 People Killed in Industrial Accidents in Past 3 Months

Amid Amaravati Farmers’ Protest and Legal Battle, Andhra Governor Gives Consent to 3 Capitals

Amid Amaravati Farmers’ Protest and Legal Battle, Andhra Governor Gives Consent to 3 Capitals

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare via EmailShare on RedditShare on KindlePrint
Share
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare via EmailShare on RedditShare on KindlePrint
Share

Related Stories

Prudhviraj Rupavath

Unions Gear up to Resist Threat of Privatisation of Ports As Govt Brings New Law

24 February 2021
Hyderabad: President Ram Nath Kovind gave his assent
Prudhviraj Rupavath

Andhra Pradesh: State-Wide Protests Against Vizag Steel Plant Privatisation

17 February 2021
Hyderabad: Over the past two weeks the state of Andhra Pradesh has witnessed massive support to the ongoing protests against the p
Ayaskant Das

Meghalaya: Scourge of Illegal Coal Mining Persists Despite Ban

06 February 2021
New Delhi: Illegal coal mining operations allegedly continue to prosper in Meghalaya despite a ban imposed upon its extraction in the s

Pagination

  • Next page ››

More

  • kerala

    Motor Vehicle Strike in Kerala Against Spiralling Fuel Prices

  • Delhi Riots

    Delhi Riots: ‘Presumption Can’t be Stretched to Take Shape of Proof,’ Court Discharges Two from Attempt to Murder

  • Heat wave India

    IMD: Above Normal Summer Temperatures Likely across Country Except South, Central India

  • Parthodas gupta

    TRP Scam: Bombay HC Grants Bail to BARC’s ex-CEO Partho Dasgupta

  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with
about