November 19, 2015
S. PRASAD
The Hindu
CUDDALORE: A day after an employee died and three others sustained burns in a fire accident at a chemical factory at Kudikadu in Cuddalore, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has served a closure order on Shasun Pharmaceuticals LimitedÂ’s Cuddalore plant for non-compliance of conditions.
According to a senior official of the TNPCB, the production block, had no valid Consent to Operate.
The TNPCB had taken note of continuous violations and issued the order for closure and disconnection of power supply under Section 31 A of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981. The Board handed over a copy of the order to the officials of the Tangedco and the power supply was disconnected around 11.45 a.m. on Wednesday.
The plant was under closure, he said.
“It is a welcome move. But that is not enough and the TNPCB should prosecute people responsible for the accident. We would like to see that prosecution takes place at the earliest and until the authorities are satisfied with the legal requirements and the workers and communities are assured of their safety, the factory should not be allowed to reopen,” Shweta Narayan, coordinator of Community Environment Monitor, told The Hindu.
“Its production block where the accident was reported had no valid Consent to Operate”