Andhra Pradesh’s pharmaceutical sector is under scrutiny following a string of significant incidents in the Atchutapuram Pharma Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Anakapalli district. Recent accidents at Synergene Active Ingredients and Escientia Advanced Science Pvt Ltd have led to fatalities and injuries, raising concerns about the government’s commitment to worker safety.
These incidents echo the tragic styrene vapour leak at LG Polymers India Private Ltd in Visakhapatnam in May 2020, which resulted in deaths and hospitalisation. The government’s response, which has largely focused on compensating victims, needs to be more proactive to prevent future occurrences.
The NK Prasad Committee in response to the LG Polymers disaster, had outlined key recommendations that have yet to be acted upon. The committee proposed the creation of factory safety boards at both the central and state levels to revamp the factory safety regulatory system. These boards would function similarly to the Central and State Pollution Control Boards (CPCB and SPCB).
The committee also suggested integrating safety regulations across various acts, including the Factories Act, Indian Boiler Act, Explosives Act, and Petroleum Act, into a unified framework. It highlighted issues such as lack of coordination among departments, insufficient staffing, and inadequate enforcement powers as significant barriers to effective safety oversight.
As reported by thehindubusinessline.com, to address these challenges, the committee recommended establishing a special investigation unit to handle major industrial accidents, akin to the National Disaster Response Force. Additionally, it proposed replacing the existing state advisory board on industrial safety with more authoritative factory regulators.
