In order to avoid a repeat of Wednesday’s tragedy, the ports and transport minister Mr Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil directed the Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT) chairman to shift the hazardous warehouse from Sewri to a place outside Mumbai. The chlorine gas leaked from one of the cylinders that was stored in the warehouse.
“The hazardous cylinders that were stocked in a warehouse in Sewri will be relocated to a place outside Mumbai. The chairmen of the MbPT has agreed to this,” said Mr Vikhe-Patil, while speaking with mediapersons after inspecting the spot. The new location of the hazardous cylinders will be decided upon soon. Meanwhile, this decision comes as a blow to 85 odd Mathadi workers who will lose their jobs.
“We have been working in the warehouse at Sewri for many years. We were the first to face the brunt of the gas leak and now the government has snatched our jobs,” said Mahimadas David, one of the workers. Mr Vikhe-Patil agreed that there was negligence on the part of the MbPT and stated that a detailed enquiry would throw light on the matter. “The government runs several ports with a standard format,” he said.