Speaking to media persons on Monday, Collector Sandeep Nanduri said, “It requires additional time to remove huge quantities of gypsum, rock phosphate and copper concentrate from the plant. Hence, we have sought thirty days’ time from the State government high-powered technical committee to completely evacuate these three materials,” he said.

The Collector further stated that except for some amount of acids, which remain in the tank bottom, large quantities of sulphuric and phosphoric acid have been evacuated, the process of which commenced more than a month back. “The acid that remains would not be required and hence it would be neutralised,” he said. 

Around 40,000 tonnes of gypsum and 23,000 tonnes of rock phosphate had so far been removed. The authorities are currently on the lookout for buyers to dispose the copper concentrate. 

On the two workers, who suffered injuries while clearing the sulphuric acid, Nanduri said one of them, who sustained 10 per cent burns, has recovered and is alright now after receiving medical treatment. Based on inspections and interactions with people at villages surrounding the plant, he said a combined drinking water supply project has been designed and the State government’s approval for the same is awaited. The project to be implemented by the TWAD board, estimated to cost Rs 8 crore, will benefit residents of eight villages. 

Further, the Collector appealed to the people not to believe any rumour regarding the reopening of the copper plant, which remains closed and sealed as per the Government Order (GO).