Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)
Mangaluru , Apr 18: Deputy commissioner (DC) Dr Rajendra K V on Tuesday, April 19 said that the police have already booked cases under various sections including 304 of Indian Penal Code.
Addressing the media at his office here, he said, "Cases are also booked against the company. Investigation is under process by the police department."
"Officials from Pollution Control Board, Labour Department and other authorities concerned also visited the spot. In the preliminary investigation they have found violation of several labour norms. There are also chances of minors being made to work in the factory," he disclosed.
The DC also said that the labour employed in the factory are unregistered and that the government had no information about these workers and they have not been registered in the labour department here. "The deceased are all from West Bengal. It has been directed by the MSEZ officials to check the issue and sought clarification from them", Dr Rajendra added.
"There are over 15 fish processing units in SEZ and other places also. I have asked the labour department and the department of boilers and factories to ask these fish processing units to hire labourers after registering them and pay wages as per the labour norms ESI and PF facilities and the Migrant Laboures Act and also collect their details," he said.
"When we checked yesterday, we found that the CCTV and their buttons were not working. There was no proper emergency response system. It is being asked by officials to hold awareness programmes at factories on hazards or non-hazards," the DC informed.
DC also said that he had directed the erring company to provide immediate compensation to the bereaved families on humanitarian grounds. "The company has agreed to provide an interim compensation of Rs 15 lac to the families of each of the deceased. They have also agreed to provide additional compensation as per the directions of the department concerned.
It may be recalled that this mishap occurred at Shree Ulka LLP on April 17.