TNPCB officials have recommended closure of KPR Mill for the lapses in safety aspects, which led to the death of seven workers.
The mishap occurred in an eight-feet deep tank which could pump the sludge coming from the main ETP to nearby filter press plant where the sludge and waste water could be separated.
The motor was linked with the ETP and filter press. When the motor faced a snag, two workers entered the tank by using a rope which was held by some who stood on the ground. When they were repairing the motor, the valve in the pipeline broke down and the sludge with hydrogen sulphate came out and the two died.
As their weight pulled down those who were on the floor, more workers entered the tank and died.
Only after the valve broke, the mishap occurred. The unit could have given safety masks to workers. Hence, on the ground of negligence of safety aspect, the unit will be closed shortly.
The inspector of factories also registered cases and the police. The different department would take action accordingly, they added.
TNPCB joint chief environment engineer Thangapandiyan, Coimbatore zone, divisional engineer Madhivanan and asst environmental engineer Udayakumar held an inquiry.
Meanwhile, an inquiry of Revenue officials was ordered into the death of seven persons in the textile mill at SIPCOT, Collector VK Shanmugam said while inspecting the bodies in Erode GH.
He later visited Perundurai General Hospital and also the private hospital where nine persons were being treated. SP MR Sibi Chakravarthy and Additional SP L Balaji Saravanan, who inspected the plant, said that Bhavani DSP was asked to hold a thorough probe. Normally, the TNPCB and Inspector of Factories would study this kind of case.
After getting their report can one say whether the mill had followed safety norms or not and whether the workers followed safety norms or not. Then, as per law, action will be taken on the mill, they asserted. CPM district committee sought `5 lakh compensation each to the families.