Telangana government forms special teams to inspect high-risk industries after Sigachi blast
Following the deadly blast at Sigachi Industries, the Telangana government has formed special teams to inspect 4,000+ high-risk industries. Factories must submit self-certification checklists, with older units prioritised for inspections. The two-month statewide drive starts immediately
Sangareddy: In the wake of the blast at Sigachi Industries Limited that claimed 46 lives and left eight workers untraced, the State government has stepped up its focus on industrial safety by constituting special committees to inspect high-risk industries across Telangana.
The Labour, Employment, Training and Factories (LETF) department has formed five special teams, each headed by the Deputy Chief Inspector of Factories in the respective regions. Other members include the General Manager of the District Industries Centre, Deputy Inspector of Boilers, Deputy Labour Commissioner, and an Environmental Engineer from the Pollution Control Board.
These committees have been tasked with inspecting 4,061 pharma, chemical, and other high-risk units, with a special focus on Sangareddy, Medak, Medchal-Malkajgiri, and Yadadri-Bhongir districts.
In coordination with the respective District Collectors, the special teams will also form sub-committees to expedite the process. The LETF department has requested the government to instruct Collectors to conduct awareness programmes for industrialists, in collaboration with bodies such as CII, FICCI, FTCCI, ILA, and others.
As part of the safety drive, all high-risk industries have been directed to submit a self-certification checklist in a prescribed format to the committees within a week. Failure to comply will result in mandatory factory inspections.
Priority will be given to older factories, deemed more vulnerable to industrial accidents. The inspection process will be rolled out in four phases. Pharma and chemical units will be covered within a month, followed by gas bottling, oil, paints, formulation, and biotech factories in Phase II. Phase III will focus on thermal power plants, cement, steel, and foundry units, while Phase IV will include all other remaining high-risk industries.
The entire inspection drive is expected to be completed within two months, according to GO No. 331 issued earlier this week.
