70 days on, Sigachi blast victims still await full compensation

Over two months after the Sigachi Industry blast in Sangareddy that claimed 54 lives, families of the victims allege that the promised compensation of Rs.1 crore remains unpaid. At a round table in Patancheru, activists and victims’ kin criticised the government and company management for their inaction and demanded increased compensation for the injured.

Sangareddy: Families of the Sigachi Industry accident victims alleged that the government had completely failed to deliver on the compensation promised after the mishap that claimed 54 lives and left several injured. Even 70 days after the blast, families said they were forced to run from pillar to post for the Rs.1 crore compensation promised by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and the company management.

The management has so far disbursed Rs. 25 lakh each to the families of 46 deceased workers and eight others who remain untraced but are believed to be dead. However, the victims’ kin, who attended a round table organised by various organisations at Muthangi in Patancheru on Tuesday, accused officials and the management of ignoring their repeated appeals.

They pointed out that officials who had promised to be available round the clock at the Industrial Local Area Authority (ILA) office in Pashamylaram were no longer responding. A help desk set up at the office is no longer functioning, making it harder for the families, most of whom are migrant workers, to access officials and claim the pending compensation.

The families also urged the State government to increase compensation for the injured from Rs.10 lakh to Rs. 50 lakh, stating that most of them were discharged without full recovery and were left without support.

Addressing the gathering, retired scientist Kalapala Babu Rao accused Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy of failing to secure fair compensation. He said the Chief Minister had not acted tough on the management even on the day of the incident, though it was the worst industrial disaster since the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy. He charged that the government was siding with the company instead of standing with the victims. Babu Rao demanded that the management responsible for the incident be arrested.

Sajnu Devi, wife of deceased worker Chotelal, said they had stayed back in Patancheru hoping to receive the remaining Rs. 75 lakh compensation. However, officials and the company management were not responding. A native of Satna in Madhya Pradesh, she urged the Telangana government to release the balance compensation without further delay.

Social activists vowed to intensify their fight until justice is delivered. The round table was chaired by Ashok Kumar and attended by MV Foundation’s Venkat Reddy, advocate Vasudha Nagaraj, who has filed a PIL in the High Court, Prof M Kodandaram, and trade union leaders.