Industries along east coast now brace for cyclone

KOLKATA: Industries along the east coast which are struggling to get back on track amid the coronavirus crisis, are now bracing for Cyclone Amphan, which is expected to bring wind of up to 175 kmph when it makes landfall near the Sunderbans on Wednesday evening.

Companies are taking all possible precautions to minimise the impact of the cyclone on their units. On high alert are districts like Jajpur, part of Odisha's steel belt, which includes Tata Steel’s 3 million-tonne steel plant at Kalinganagar, and petrochemicals hub like Paradeep and Haldia where Indian Oil Corporation has large refineries.

Tata Steel said it is taking adequate precautionary measures as per Standard Operating Procedures at Kalinganagar to keep its plant and people safe.


"Our state-of-the-art production facility at Kalinganagar, located about 100kms away from the sea coast, is designed to handle natural calamities and can withstand a wind speed of about 180kmph," a Tata Steel spokesperson said.

Jindal Stainless Limited said its plant at Jajpur is located in the peripheral zone, according to IMD. “However, we have taken all necessary precautions,” a company executive said.

For most companies, the general advisory is to not be on the road during the cyclone, not stand near or under glass and other fragile structure or take shelter under any tree any metallic structure or temporary shed.

For all industrial units along the cyclone's path, the civil & structural department will restrict construction jobs at a height during cyclonic storm.

Inside the plant area at JSL, all loose materials and temporary structures, columns, chimneys have been secured and stacking material in height has been barred. Cranes, hydra, pay loaders, forklifts, etc., are being parked at designated places with their forks, booms and arms down.

At the railway siding, wagons, locomotives, gantry cranes, etc., are to be kept in standstill state, the company said.

S M Vaidya, Director (Refineries), IOC said: "Paradeep and Haldia are fully geared for super cyclone Amphan with senior task force monitoring real time with offsite and onsite emergency plans activated, round the clock control room and essential services in full readiness for all eventualities." IOC had re-started its refineries only last week and these are currently operating at 60% capacities, with plans to scale up to 80% of the design levels by the end of the month.