The Andhra Pradesh government on Friday rejected the demand voiced by the opposition YSR Congress Party in State Assembly to relocate the Godavari aqua food park being set up in West Godavari district by the Bhimavaram-based Ananda group, a leading seafood exporter in the state.

People in the villages in the vicinity of the ongoing project have been agitating for the past two years against it.

The demand was voiced in the Assembly by the Opposition leader YS Jaganmohan Reddy during a noisy debate on the death of five workers at a shrimp processing factory run by the Ananda group on Thursday due to toxic gas leak.

Compensation

Labour Minister Accham Naidu said it was most unfortunate that five workers had died in the accident and the government had ordered an inquiry into the incident by a senior officer and stringent action would be taken against those responsible for it.

The government would also arrange payment of ₹25 lakhs to the families of the dead workers.

“It was a safety lapse and we would take all steps to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. All pollution control measures would also be taken. The factory has stopped production, pending enquiry. We will not spare anyone,” he said.

However, he said, it was not correct to demand that the mega Godavari aqua food park being taken up at Tundurru village in the vicinity of Bhimavaram town be relocated or shelved because of the incident.

He said the same Ananda group was executing the project, but “a big project cannot be halted due to one unfortunate incident. It is not proper to politicise the issue.”

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