Vizag Gas Leak: NGT issues notices to Centre, LG Polymers & more; company to park Rs 50 cr

National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued tice to Centre, LG Polymers India, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and ors after 11 people lost ir lives due to gas leak at a chemical plant in Vizag. Tribunal has formed a 5-member committee which will be heed by a former judge of Andhra Presh High Court to probe incident.

NGT has asked to submit a report before May 18

NGT also directed LG Polymers India Pvt to submit Rs 50 crore an interim amount for dam to life. A bench heed by NGT Chairperson Justice arsh Kumar Goel has asked  five-member Committee comprising Justice B Seshasayana Reddy to submit a report before May 18.

"Having regard to prima facie material regarding extent of dam to life, public health and environment, we direct LG Polymers India Pvt Limited to forthwith deposit an initial amount of Rs 50 crore, with District Magistrate, Vishakhapatnam, which will abide by furr orders of this Tribunal. amount is being fixed having regard to financial worth of company and extent of dam caused," bench said.

Gas leaked from a chemical plant in Visakhapatnam in early hours of Thursday and quickly spre to vills in a five-kilometre rius, killing at least 11 people and impacting about 1,000, many collapsing to ground as y tried to escape toxic vapours. 

Among de were two children, d six and nine, a first-year medical student and two people who fell into a well while fleeing vapours from plant, getting rey to reopen after lockdown.

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CM Jagan orders probe into incident

Taking stock of situation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he h spoken to officials of Ministry of Home Affairs and National Disaster Manment Authority (NDMA). "I pray for everyone's safety and well-being in Visakhapatnam," Modi said in a tweet.

Andhra Presh Chief Minister Y S Jaganmohan Reddy has ordered a probe into matter, state Director General of Police D Gautam Sawang said. "How gas leaked and why neutraliser at plant did t prove effective in containing leak will all be investigated. Styrene, though, is t a poisous gas and can be fatal only if inhaled in excess quantity," Sawang said

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(With PTI inputs)