ESP collapses at BALCO plant in Korba

 

 

 

A mishap on Friday struck the Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO) plant in Korba, over 200 km from Raipur, when an ageing Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP) structure collapsed. The 20-year-old unit, installed by Sepco in 2004-05, gave way suddenly with a loud crash, triggering panic among workers. Fortunately, there was no loss of life, though the incident has once again put the spotlight on safety protocols in one of India’s key aluminium plants. According to initial reports, the ESP had long exceeded its operational lifespan. Workers alleged that repeated warnings about deteriorating structures were ignored by management.

 

The accident could have been disastrous, they said, given that the collapsed structure was located in an area regularly accessed by staff. “We survived narrowly. It could have been a disaster if more people were nearby,” recalled one worker. The mishap revived grim memories of BALCO’s 2009 chimney collapse, among the worst industrial disasters in the country. At that time, a 248-metre-high chimney came crashing down during construction of a 1200-MW power plant, killing 43 contract labourers. Workers say that despite inquiries and advisories after that tragedy, safety monitoring remains inadequate. “That horror is etched in our minds. The system should have ensured such negligence is never repeated,” said a BALCO staffer. Friday’s collapse has also highlighted gaps in oversight by regulatory bodies. Workers alleged that the labour department conducts only superficial checks, often under pressure from industrial lobbies, while ignoring real structural hazards.

 

They pointed to another recent mishap at the Godavari power unit of Hira Group near Raipur, where six workers lost their lives, as an example of systemic negligence. Local unions have strongly demanded accountability from both the management and safety inspectors. Experts in Raipur underscored that ageing infrastructure in heavy industries poses serious risks, not just to workers but also to production continuity. They stressed the need for regular structural audits, timely replacement of outdated equipment, and independent oversight to avoid recurring disasters. Balco officials stated that while the ESP had subsided, there was no loss of life or property damage. An internal probe has already been initiated, and necessary measures will be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future. Debris removal at the site was underway at full scale. Officials added that the structure was old, which caused the incident.