At least 88 labourers working in different big industries in the State died in accidents during the last two years, the Assembly was informed on Tuesday.
“While 56 labourers died due to accidents in big industries during 2011-12, 32 met a similar fate during 2012-13 (up to August),” Labour and Employment Minister Bijayshree Routray said while replying to a question from Prafulla Samal (BJD).
The Minister assured the members that he would ask the officials to visit different industries and ensure that adequate safety measures were taken before operation of plants.
Members cutting across party-lines expressed concern over the high rate of accidents in industrial units in the State. Stating that the Government has initiated steps to stop accidents in factories, the Minister said 168 accident-prone units have been identified and implementation of security measures by them are being checked.
Field officials of the department have been asked to monitor the units and stop any untoward incidents, he said.
Targets have been fixed for field officials to lodge cases against factories which are not conforming to security related guidelines and laws, he said.
The Minister said the State Government started identification of unregistered factories and ensuring implementation of all security guidelines for workers. Field officials have also been asked to take strong action against functioning of units without licence and registration, he said.
Expressing concern over the matter, BJD MLA Prafulla Mallik claimed mishaps at frequent intervals in Bhushan Steel Plant in Dhenkanal alone claimed 15 lives in the past two years.
He urged the Government to record complete information of the labourers and workers of all industrial units of State so that compensation could be provided to the family members in case of any mishap.
Amar Prasad Satpathy (BJD) claimed that while 122 accidents took place in different industries in 2011-12, 69 mishaps occurred during 2012-13. He blamed it on manpower shortage in different industrial units.