Hyderabad, July 29: The Andhra Pradesh Labour Department swung into action following the tragic death of two workers who were buried alive under loose soil during sewer pipeline laying works at Ramanthapur on Monday. It has written to the GHMC and Municipal Administration officials to blacklist the IVR Constructions Limited which held the contract for the works and cancel all further orders. Besides, the Labour Department has also asked the Uppal police to register a case of murder against the management.
“The GHMC had given the contract (for undertaking drainage works) to IVRCL. We have issued notice to the construction company to pay a compensation of Rs 4.40 lakh to each of the two victims. We have also written to the GHMC and Municipal Administration to blacklist the company and cancel all further orders,” Joint Commissioner, Labour Department, B Ajay told Expresso.
The workers, Krishna, aged 20 and Venkatesh (22) died on the spot. Krishna was married just a month ago. The Managing Director of IVRCL is T Sunil Reddy and its office is located at Banjara Hills.
“Both went 20 feet deep inside the pit. IVRCL should have ensured that they wore helmets and had safety shoes besides taking other precautions. Both died after the debris fell on them,” the Joint Commissioner said.
He said that a notice for compensation was issued under the Workmen Compensation Act, 1923 and the firm would have to pay Rs 4.40 lakh to each of the two workers apart from the Rs 5 lakh ex gratia they already announced.
“We have lodged a police complaint from our side as the firm was negligent and careless in implementing the safety measures for workers. We are insisting that a murder case be registered against them,” he said.
Further, the Labour Department has also issued a show cause notice to Sunil Reddy asking why he should not be prosecuted. “The company has not even obtained contract labour licence and continued with the work which is a major violation of labour laws,” Ajay said adding that henceforth, all such cases of negligence and not following labour laws will result in serious action against the negligent firms. The Rs 6.5 crore works to lay 35 sewer pipes passing through Ramanthapur were awarded to IVRCL. The company had already installed 23 pipes and works to lay the remaining ones are underway. The works commenced a month back.
–Agencies–