Panel to check safety measures in factories

Mukesh Tandon

Tribune News Service

Panipat, September 26

Deputy Commissioner Dr Chander Shekhar Khare has constituted a five-member committee to check safety measures in all factories located in the district after a woman and her son lost their lives in a fire.

Shamshida (36) and her 8-year-old son Anas, residents of Bijnor district in Uttar Pradesh, were killed when a fire broke out in Jai Maa Textile on the Devpuri road in the wee hours on Sunday.

A preliminary inquiry conducted by the Deputy Director of the Labour Department revealed that the factory was neither registered under the Factories Act nor under the Shop Act. Sources said the factory, spread over an area of 150 yards, was owned by Ramesh Nandwani and Yash Nandwani.

The sources said no register for the labour was maintained in the factory and it lacked all safety measures.

The factory owners had also not taken the no objection certificate from the Urban Local Bodies Department, the sources added.

The DC said that after the fire incident, a five-member committee had been constituted to check safety parameters in the industries to prevent yesterday-like incident in future. The members the committee would ensure the safety measures to be maintained in the factories, he added. The committee comprises of a representative of the Superintending Engineer from the UHBVN, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Deputy Labour Commissioner, Deputy Director, Industrial Safety, and health and fire officer of Panipat and Samalkha, he added.

“The committee has been directed to conduct survey of safety measures in the industries and submit its report after October 7,” he said.

On the fire incident, the DC said: “The matter is under investigation and no arrest has been made so far. Details of sales and other taxes are being collected,” he added.