Sakti (Chhattisgarh), Apr 16 (PTI) The opposition Congress on Thursday visited the Vedanta power plant in Chhattisgarh’s Sakti district, where a blast on April 14 claimed 20 lives, and questioned if proper safety audits were conducted before the unit was commissioned last year.
The explosion in the plant in Singhitarai village took place when a steel tube carrying high-pressure steam from the boiler to the turbine burst, leaving 20 workers dead and 16 others injured.
A Congress delegation led by state unit chief Deepak Baij and Leader of Opposition Charan Das Mahant inspected the incident site and met affected families. The team also included members of the party’s committee constituted to probe the incident.
“The plant was originally constructed by Athena Chhattisgarh Power Limited and later acquired by Vedanta after a gap of nearly 11 years. The plant became operational after a long gap. Was a thorough inspection conducted before commissioning? Were boiler safety norms followed? Was there any rusting or cracks in the system? These are serious questions that need answers,” Baij told reporters.
Repeated industrial accidents in the state point to negligence, he said while claiming that over 300 workers have lost their lives in such incidents. The state government has been shielding the management in past incidents, Baij alleged.
“Is this negligence or murder? There is fear among workers. There must be strict action against those responsible, proper treatment for the injured. There must be compensation of Rs 1 crore for the families of the deceased and Rs 50 lakh for the injured,” he said.
Meanwhile, state Commerce and Industry Minister Lakhan Lal Dewangan visited hospitals in Raigarh to meet the injured and their families before heading to the plant site.
Talking to reporters at the site of the plant, Dewangan accused the Congress of politicising the tragedy.
“A magisterial inquiry has been ordered. The Union government has also constituted a committee. Technical experts will investigate. Strict action will be taken against those found guilty. No one will be spared. The state government stands with the victims’ families. It is making efforts to ensure proper medical treatment for the injured,” he said.
Steps would also be taken to provide employment support to the families of the deceased, Dewangan added.
The construction of a 1,200 MW coal-based thermal power project (two units of 600 MW each) in Singhitarai, originally owned by Athena Chhattisgarh Power Ltd, started in 2009, but remained stalled between 2016 and 2022. Vedanta acquired the plant in 2022, after which a 600 MW unit was completed and commissioned in August last year.
The second unit is still under construction.
The Chhattisgarh police on Thursday registered an FIR against the management officials and others in connection with the blast.
“A case has been registered at the Dabhra police station under sections 106 (causing death by negligence), 289 (negligent conduct with respect to machinery) and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita,” Sakti Superintendent of Police Prafull Thakur said.
Eight to ten individuals have been named in the FIR. PTI TKP BNM
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