VIJAYAWADA
Scientists for People, an association of retired scientists from A.P. and Telangana led by K. Babu Rao (former principal scientist at the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology), stated in its findings on the accident at pharmaceutical manufacturing unit of Escientia Advanced Sciences Private Limited in Anakapalli district, that the incident highlighted critical safety deficiencies related to maintenance, safe work practices and a flawed ventilation system.
They observed the issuuance of an operating licence to the plant by the Inspector of Factories allegedly without doing an adequate assessment of the safety of the ventilation system was a serious oversight and a major contributing factor to the severity of the incident that caused the death of 17 persons and serious injuries to 39 others.
Mr. Babu Rao and other members of the association namely K. Venkat Reddy, D. Rambabu and Ahamed Khan stated that a comprehensive and transparent investigation, including a thorough evaluation of the regulatory oversight was essential to prevent similar tragedies and improve safety standards.
The misapplication of ‘Ease of Doing Business’ principles was contributing to preventable fatal accidents as regulatory leniency is being ‘prioritised’ over environmental and occupational safety. Besides, they said, the draft report of the High-Level Committee (HLC) was deficient as it lacked essential details required for verification and analysis, and that the HLC visited the plant five weeks after the incident.
The HLC report focussed on company lapses but neglected regulatory oversight that was partly responsible for the accident, and did not make a thorough analysis of the causes of the vapour cloud explosion. Basically, the report did not align with the established terms of reference and there was no evidence of consensus in the HLC on the contents of the draft report.
Mr. Babu Rao and his colleagues added that the current state of regulatory oversight and enforcement, characterised by poor quality, hinders the development of a future-ready industry. This regulatory incapacity fosters leniency, necessitating a concerted effort to enhance the competence of regulators.
Published – March 24, 2025 08:37 pm IST
