Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 1 (IANS) Ensuring public safety at construction sites is the mandatory responsibility of the officials and contractors concerned, Kerala Public Works Minister P.K. Basheer said on Tuesday.
He directed that necessary barricades, warning boards and safety arrangements that are clearly visible at night must be put in place whenever pits are dug as part of construction work.
No negligence of any kind will be tolerated in this regard, he stressed, terming the death of a person after falling into a drain that was under construction in Alappuzha “extremely tragic and distressing”.
No development project is greater than the safety of human life, he added.
In the wake of the incident, urgent directions have been issued to the officials concerned to ensure that safety standards are strictly followed in road construction works across the state.
They have also been instructed to inspect and ensure the availability of adequate safety arrangements at all major road construction sites where work is currently underway.
The government will examine whether there was any lapse in providing safety arrangements at the Alappuzha site.
“If any negligence is found, strict action will be taken against those responsible. Neither contractors nor the officials concerned will be spared from accountability,” Basheer said.
The government’s position is that public safety must be given the highest priority while ensuring that development projects are completed quickly, he noted.
The fact that work is in progress should never become a reason for putting people’s lives at risk, he added.
Steps will be taken to further strengthen existing safety arrangements to prevent such tragic incidents from recurring, assured Basheer.
Clear instructions will be issued to officials and contractors regarding safety standards at road construction sites, and strict measures will be taken to ensure compliance.
“There will be no compromise on public safety. Development is for the people, and therefore the government will ensure that people’s lives and safety are protected at every stage of development,” said Basheer.
–IANS
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