----------------------------------------------------------------------- Documented by Goa Desc Documentation Service & circulated by Goa Civic & Consumer Action Network (GOA CAN)<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Ph:2252660 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Public ignorant about risks in transportation of inflammable materials ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Council of Occupational Safety, Health and Environment, Goa has expressed concern over the failure of the government to provide protection to the general public in the state from the transportation of inflammable material, during its specially convened meet.
The secretary of the council and former chief inspector of the Directorate of Factories and Boilers, Mr C V Dhume talking to The Navhind Times stated that the provisions of the Control of Industrial Major Accident Hazard Rules 1993 lays down responsibilities on management of the companies dealing with explosive material to make public aware about the hazards to which they are exposed to and the actions they are supposed to take in the event of an emergency.
Mr Dhume was speaking in context with the recent accident at Porvorim involving a tanker carrying naphtha to Zuarinagar, Vasco."The public also include the people residing along the roads on which transportation of hazardous goods is being carried out. The law enforcing agencies have however failed to get these provisions enforced and the management of the company to which the material was being taken have also largely succeeded in keeping the public ignorant about the issue", he observed.
The accident and the subsequent 'leakage' of naphtha was noticed by the public and not by the management personnel, at 5.45 p.m, Mr Dhume said, adding that the information reached the police through the locals. "The fire tender which was put into action was not in operative condition and another fire tender was to be requested from Verna fire station.
In case of any emergency, the response should be made available within shortest possible time and it is often within 15 minutes as per the Western standards", he mentioned, adding that the fire brigade of the Zuarinagar- based company reached the accident spot practically one and half hour late, that is at 7.15 a.m.
This exposes the credibility of the On-site Emergency Management Plan of the company, he retorted, further pointing out that Goa is possibly the only state which has tolerated naphtha leakages in the state eight times. Mr Dhume also observed that the continuous naphtha leakages from the Vasco pipeline could pose serious threat to the residents of the Vasco city and its surrounding areas.
He further mentioned that as per a news report, the local residents had collected the naphtha from the pipeline during one of the leaks, presuming that it was kerosene. "If this is fact then it indicates the level of public awareness about the hazards to which they are exposed to", Mr Dhume noted.
The particular day saw a heavy downpour, the absence of which could have resulted in disastrous consequences, he predicted, adding that in one of the rural areas of Maharashtra, several people were charred to death in the past, while making similar attempts to collect naphtha from a leaking tanker involved in a road accident.
The council is also contemplating to present a memorandum to the Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Parrikar for improvement of the safety situation in the state. -------------------------------------------------- The Navhind Times 26/6/03 page 3 --------------------------------------------------
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