KARIMNAGAR : In the wake of Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation project’s tunnel roof collapse incident that occurred at Tippapur in Rajanna-Sircilla district and other similar mishaps in Pedapalli district, the labour department has decided to organise meetings at respective districts to create awareness about safety measures that are needed to be taken at project site. The meetings will be conducted in coordination with respective collectors for engineers and workers, who are taking part in the ongoing construction works of Kaleshwaram project.
During the proposed meeting, awareness would be created among the participants on labour laws, labour enrolment issues and relevant Acts relating to inter-state labour migration issues.Deputy commissioner of labour department, A Gandhi, told Express that they were planning to organise the proposed meeting in the first week of October. “Every worker should be enrolled with the labour department for the welfare of workers,” he opined.Lack of safety measures led to tunnel collapse With regard to Tippapur tunnel accident at the Kaleshwaram project works in which seven workers were killed, the enquiry done by the officials found that the accident had occurred as there were no safety measures at the project site. Violation of labour laws were also witnessed at Tippapur site during the investigation. The contractor concerned was not following inter-state Migration Workers Act.
“There was no skilled supervisor, there were no proper ladders and no proper mechanism for ventilation at work site in the tunnel. There was no short treatment (finishing roof and side walls in the tunnel) at the accident place in the tunnel. There was no prescribed register at tunnel. Hence, labour department will inspect whether they are paying proper wages as per labour laws to the workers or violating the laws,” Gandhi told Express. According to him, violation of labour laws by the contractor were clearly witnessed at Tippapur site during the investigation. The enquiry officers found that the contractor concerned was not following inter-state Migration Workers Act.
The probe conducted into the incident looked into the violation of labour laws and lack of safety measures at the work site. The enquiry report had been submitted. On the direction of higher officials, action would be taken against contract agency, he added. Turning to the issue of compensation to the kin of the victims of the accident, Gandhi disclosed that Hindustan Construction Company (HCC), had agreed to pay compensation to the families of deceased.