Sir — The tragic accident at NTPC’s Unchahar plant, Uttar Pradesh, must serve as a wake-up call for the country as we embark on a massive industrial expansion spree. This accident is also a reminder of the poor work safety standards and lax enforcement of regulations that have led to horrific accidents earlier too.
It is high time that safety audits be conducted for all under construction projects by an independent agency so that such incidents can be avoided in the future. Safety factors should not be compromised at any cost in the rush of running the plant. The Government should also take lessons from the blast and take punitive measures to stop such incidents in future.