JAC renews demand for judicial probe into Steel Plant accident

The Joint Action Committee (JAC), comprising labor unions and people’s organisations, staged a protest in front of the Visakhapatnam Collectorate on Friday, renewing its demand for a judicial inquiry into the accident that took place at the Steel Melting Shop (SMS) of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant on June 8, which claimed the lives of 10 workers.

The protest, held as part of a State-wide campaign, demanded compensation of ₹ 1 crore from the State government for the family of every worker killed and ₹ 50 lakh for every worker injured. JAC also demanded that the proposed privatization of the Steel Mill be stopped and stringent safety measures be implemented to prevent similar accidents. A report was then submitted to the district administration.

The meeting, chaired by CITU district general secretary RKSV Kumar and AITUC district general secretary CJ Achyuta Rao, began with a minute’s silence in memory of the victims. According to the speakers, eight workers died at the scene of the accident, while two workers were injured during treatment.

Addressing the meeting, JAC president M. Jaggu Naidu and other leaders of workers’ organizations alleged that the accident was caused by negligence on the part of the Union and State governments and the Steel Plant management. They alleged that while the administration announced ₹25 lakh as compensation to each of the bereaved families, the State government did not announce any financial assistance. They also demanded a comprehensive safety audit, improvements in machinery and workplace infrastructure and stronger safety protocols and said the agitation will continue until justice is provided for the affected families.