Call for preventing accidents

VADODARA, March 4: Though a Bhopal at Vadodara was an impossibility, there is a dire need to keep oneself fully-prepared for any type of ...

VADODARA, March 4: Though a Bhopal at Vadodara was an impossibility, there is a dire need to keep oneself fully-prepared for any type of industrial mishap, says J M Barot, the distinguished environment scientist and former member secretary of the Gujarat Pollution Control Board.

Barot, who is currently director, Gujarat Jalseva Training Institute Gujarat Water Supply and Sewerage Board was delivering the inaugural address at the three-day seminar on 8220;statutory requirements for safety, health, environment, pollution control and fire protection8221;, organised by Jain Management and Technology Consultants here on Thursday.

He highlighted various state-of-the-art technological measurements made by industrial giants in the district and said that an accident like Bhopal was impossible in Vadodara.

8220;One can appreciate the fact that more than 10,000 employees of each of these big industries live in their very own townships8221;, he said and added that he was aware of the safety measures made by the industries because of his stint with GPCB. He, however, stressed the need to be always cautious and fully-prepared.

Exhorting the industries of Gujarat to be exceptionally safety-conscious, he said the awareness among both, the management and the employees, was increasing. He lamented that some 8220;persons with vested interested at times spread rumours which was dangerous for society8221;.

In his 30-minute speech decorated with Sanskrit, Urdu and English couplets, he focused on the fact that 8220;prevention was better than cure8221;. He also emphasised on attitudanal change in the minds of personnel especially in the wake of the next millenium.

Other key speakers at the seminar would include M R Shelat, former senior manager safety, IOCL, Major retd L R Jain, former senior manager safety, GAIL, M M Shah, Inspector of factories, J Tripathi, controller of explosives, R V Kadam, director, Paramount Pollution Control Limited, N C Kapoor, deputy general manager health, GSFC, N Raghu, senior divisional manager, New India Assurance Co Ltd and K N K Murthy, safety manager, IPCL 8211; all from Vadodara and J N Vakil, assistant general manager, Tariff Advisory Committee, Ahmedabad.