BMC awareness drive on safe handling of hazardous chemicals

Bhubaneswar: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) in collaboration with the directorate of factories and boilers will embark on an awareness drive to ensure safe handling of hazardous chemicals in the city. Hazardous chemicals are not only stored and used in the factories but also transported via the national highway passing through the city.
The decision came against the backdrop of a fatal accident at Chhatrapur in Ganjam district. On January 17, a LPG cylinder-laden truck skidded off the road killing three persons on the spot. An emergency vehicle had to be called in from Visakhapatnam and it took several hours to reach the spot.
Deputy director (factories and boilers) Malay Kumar Pradhan said the state should have an emergency vehicle to tackle fire mishaps due to accidents involving transport of LPG cylinders and other petroleum products.
"Poisonous gases and highly combustible chemicals like chlorine, propane, methylene, acetylene, oxygen and aircraft turbine fuel pose a threat to the safety of citizens. The civic authorities should be aware about their locations, surroundings and possible ways to fight an emergency when warranted," he said.
Experts have expressed concern over LPG depots and offices in crowded residential areas and petrol pumps and ATF filling stations near the airport terminal in the state capital.
BMC additional commissioner Alok Kar urged Pradhan to spread awareness on the issue. Besides launching a joint awareness drive, the civic body will try to procure an emergency vehicle to tackle such mishaps, city mayor Ananta Narayan Jena said. "We will write to the competent authorities for an emergency vehicle. Such vehicles hold significance with a petro-chemical complex coming up at Paradip," he added.