Rourkela: Though the state government has taken several measures for the safety of construction labourers, neither the department concerned nor the contractors who engage them bothers to comply with these norms, a report said.
The department has allegedly turned a blind eye towards the issue even as most of the labourers are made to work in hazardous condition without any safety gear.
Worse, the representatives of most of the labour unions misappropriate the government funds meant for procurement of safety equipment for workers, it was learnt.
The contractors, labour department and the office bearers of the labour unions often settle matters by handing a few thousand rupees to the kin of labourers who die at work in the absence of safety equipment, alleged many workers.
None of these bodies ever spare a thought to prevent the repetition of such mishaps, they added.
Recently, a man died after falling off an under-construction building of STI Engineering College in the city. Similar incidents were reported at least thrice at the site of under-construction railway overbridge near STI Chhak which left seven people critically injured.
A man engaged in construction on the premises of Income Tax office at Udit Nagar also died after falling off the building as he was not given safety gear.
Though such incidents have been on the rise in the city, the labour department and the labour unions show no concern towards such tragedies.
They also don’t bother to take any corrective measures even after so many mishaps, alleged some construction workers.
For example, a woman worker was Friday seen working dangerously on the top of a four-storied building near Jagannath Temple in Udit Nagar. Neither she had worn a safety waist belt nor put on a helmet. Such scenes are common in the city, it was learnt.
The labour department should take stringent action against the contractors who made people work in such hazardous conditions, said Digambar Mohanty, the general secretary of a district-level outfit of industrial workers. Besides, raids should be conducted at such sites, he added.
SUCI’s Bishnu Panda said labour unions should also look into the matter without holding the department solely responsible for the lapse.
When contacted, deputy director SN Sethy of Factories and Boilers department said he has not received any complaint over the issue. Action would be taken if he gets complaint in this regard, Sethy added. PNN
