Nagpur: Chlorine leak at a water treatment plant (WTP) in Godhani on Aug 24, which left scores of nearby residents hospitalised, has exposed a serious safety lapse. A 900kg chlorine tonner at the WTP was being handled without basic safeguards such as a gas leak sensor, alarm, scrubber, adequate protective equipment or a formal emergency response plan, a joint inquiry has found.The report, submitted to Nagpur collector Kumar Ashirwad, identified a fault in the valve of a standby chlorine tonner as the immediate cause of the leak. The impact was magnified due to multiple deficiencies in the plant’s safety and emergency-response arrangements, according to the report.Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran, which has set up the 6.5 MLD WTP, has already announced that it would not use chlorine gas henceforth and has started using bleaching powder instead. TOI had reported about observations of an expert team that visited the site on Aug 25.The gas leak affected around 59 residents in the adjoining residential area of Phagoji Layout in Sakar Nagar. District administration, police, NDRF, fire brigade, Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health (DISH) personnel and other teams evacuated residents and launched rescue operations. The leakage was brought under control around 7.30am and the area was declared safe at 9am.Officials said that several safeguards recommended for handling hazardous chlorine were absent. The inquiry found no chlorine gas detection sensor or alarm, no emergency siren or public-address system, and inadequate PPE and SCBA equipment. There was also no proper neutralisation arrangement, while the plant lacked an SOP and on-site emergency plan.The NMC Public Health Engineering Department found that caustic soda required for neutralising chlorine was not available. The inspection also found the chlorine cylinder placed on the ground instead of an appropriate stand and inadequate security arrangements around the tonner.The NMC Fire Department flagged the plant’s proximity to residential premises and the limited width of the approach road, which could hamper emergency response. It also pointed to deficiencies in equipment such as a neutralisation tower/scrubber, neutralisation pit and leakage arrest kit.The committee recommended fixing responsibility on the concerned contractor or agency and initiating administrative action. It also called for trained supervisors and safety officers, CCTV cameras, gas sensors and alarms, scrubber systems, emergency sirens, adequate stocks of caustic soda and ice, and regular safety audits.Regular mock drills and employee training have also been recommended, along with preparation and display of SOPs and emergency response plans.The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, meanwhile, found no perceptible chlorine smell during its inspection. Its atmospheric sample recorded 0.289 mg/m³ of chlorine, below the 3 mg/m³ exposure limit cited in the report.INFOBOX | PROBE FINDINGImmediate cause: Faulty valve in standby 900kg chlorine tonner Gas leak sensor/alarm: Absent Emergency siren/PA system: Absent Scrubber/neutralisation system: Absent/inadequate PPE/SCBA: Inadequate Caustic soda: Not available SOP/emergency plan: Absent Trained manpower: Inadequate Regular safety audits: Not conducted Cylinder placement: Directly on ground Emergency access: Approach road narrow Residential proximity: Houses close to WTP MPCB chlorine reading: 0.289 mg/m³ Panel recommendation: Fix responsibility and immediately strengthen safety systems
