MARGAO
The ammonia gas leakage at Quality Foods has thrown up a question whether the authorities will carry out inspection and testing of the units to ensure safety.
This question has come to the fore as the Cuncolim Industrial Estate plays host to a couple of fish processing plants as well as ice plants where ammonia gas is used in the production process.
Not a single authority could answer questions raised by Cuncolkars whether the government will carry out a safety audit of the units in the estate, beginning with the fish processing and ice plants.
When The Goan called up the office of the Factories & Boilers to find out whether there’s any plan to conduct a safety audit of the fish processing plants and ice plants, a senior official said there’s no such plan in the offing.
The official told The Goan that officials of the Factories & Boilers are presently preoccupied with the inquiry into the ammonia gas leakage in the Quality Foods unit.
“Right now, officials of the Factories & Boilers are occupied with the ongoing inquiry into the Quality Foods ammonia gas leakage. Our investigation is underway to find out the exact cause of the leakage,” the official said.
Incidentally, officials of the Factories & Boilers were clear in saying that random checking of the units in the light of the gas leakage in cannot be undertaken, on the ground what is safe today can be unsafe tomorrow.
“Let us first complete the inquiry into the Quality Foods leakage so that the exact reason behind the accident is established and the guilty prosecuted,” the official added.
Since the ammonia gas tragedy claimed the life of a young UP worker, Cuncolkars have been demanding general inspection of all the units operating in the estate.
The tragedy had only raised fears amongst the local populace that the residents staying around the estate are susceptible to risks and dangers from the units.
