Botsa announces YSRCP aid for Essentia pharma blast victims

Botsa Satyanarayana, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, announced that the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) will provide Rs 5 lakh to each family whose family members lost their lives and Rs 1 lakh to each injured person undergoing treatment due to recent Essentia Pharma blast in the Atchutapuram SEZ, Anakapalli district.
Addressing the media, Botsa affirmed, “Under the guidance of our party president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, we will ensure that this financial assistance reaches the victims promptly. We must stand by them in these challenging times.” He criticised the State government for its inadequate relief measures, accusing them of negligence in both responding to the disaster and enforcing safety protocols in industries.
“The government’s response has been woefully insufficient. Ministers have been more preoccupied with blaming the previous administration than addressing the real issues at hand,” Botsa said. He questioned the government’s actions following such tragedies, emphasizing, “What have the officials done to support the victims? What steps have been taken to prevent future incidents?”
Botsa drew a stark contrast between the current administration’s response and the swift action taken during his tenure as a minister. Recalling the LG Polymers gas leak incident, he noted, “Despite the challenges of the pandemic, the government acted swiftly. Ministers, including myself, along with the Chief Minister, were at the scene by afternoon. Today’s government seems to be lacking that urgency and commitment.”
He condemned the current administration’s focus on irrelevant statements and the tendency to blame others for the accidents. Botsa pointed out that a committee, led by an officer now serving as Chief Secretary, had previously established safety protocols and issued a Government Order (GO) to enhance industry safety.
 “Our party leaders have shown responsibility by visiting the mortuary and meeting the families of the deceased. In contrast, the government has failed to take any meaningful action, such as setting up a call centre for the victims,” Botsa said.
He lamented the current situation, noting that the factory management’s lack of responsiveness has compounded the tragedy. “When the LG Polymers incident occurred, compensation of Rs. 1 crore per victim was provided. The government disbursed Rs. 30  crore immediately, later reimbursed by the company. Now, the factory management is reportedly unresponsive. We will hold them accountable and ensure compensation is provided,” Botsa vowed.
In addition, Botsa condemned the recent attack on YSR Congress Party worker Prasad in Etcherla, which led to his death after days of treatment.
“The ruling party’s actions are unacceptable. We demand an end to such violence and insist on murder charges against those responsible. The public will not tolerate this behaviour,” Botsa declared.