BICHOLIM: Bicholim MLA Dr Chandrakant Shetye questioned the Kairav Rolling mill authorities about the people responsible for the blast at the iron smelting furnace and demanded that officials of Inspectorate of Factories and Boilers do a thorough investigation and file a complaint with the police so that an FIR is lodged against those guilty of criminal negligence be booked immediately for endangering human lives.
On Friday, Dr Shetye along with officials from the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB), Inspectorate of Factories and Boilers, Police and Fire and Emergency Services, visited the Kairav Rolling Mills, at Muslimwada, here and took stock of the situation.
The explosions reverberated into the neighbourhood as the blast occurred at the iron smelting furnace at shaking houses in the vicinity and spreading fear among residents.
The MLA was infuriated with the mill authorities and Goa Pollution Control Board officer who had come for a site inspection without any proper documents. “Today I felt disappointed with the government officers as they have come for a site inspection without a single document. My main question is, what kind of work was taking place at this site? Was it of any benefit to the government? Were all the permissions and licenses provided by the government or not? Which is the parent company? I have told the PI to file an FIR and start the investigations immediately. However, I did not receive satisfactory answers. People’s safety is my main concern and not the action,” Shetye said.
The locals who had accompanied the MLA asked demanded that the perpetrators be immediately apprehended for putting the lives of innocent people in danger.
The Kairav Rolling mills operation have been shutdown, informed Factories and Boilers Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar, adding that a proper audit of the factory will be taken up.
The minister on Friday visited the factory and took stock of the situation.
