Worker Dies While Laying Mastic Asphalt in Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: Even though the Odisha Government is floating several schemes for welfare of workers, lack of safety measures and personal protective equipment and lack of monitoring at construction sites is leading to hundreds of accidents, injuries and even fatalities in the State. To make matters worse, the employers or contractors, who are flouting the safety laws are going unpunished despite strict laws to protect workers.

Worker Killed by Boiling Mastic Asphalt

A glaring example is the recent death of a West Bengal worker who died while laying mastic asphalt on a road in capital city Bhubaneswar. The deceased was bringing boiling liquefied mastic asphalt when it fell on him. He was initially rushed to the Capital Hospital and later to a private hospital where he succumbed to the injuries while undergoing treatment. Sources said the laying of mastic asphalt was done hurriedly by the contractor at night in complete darkness.

Contractor Accused of Hushing Up Death

But the worker’s death did not come to the knowledge of the media. The concerned contractor who claims to be a close associate of the Works Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan, cunningly hushed up the matter in a bid to escape from paying compensation claims to the family of the deceased. The family of the worker, besides, has been deprived of its sole breadwinner and has been deprived of food and shelter.

Contractor Goes Underground

The incident took place more than a week ago. The work at the site has been stopped by the contractor and all the labourers have been whisked away somewhere else. The contractor has also gone underground.

The aforesaid contractor is using the Minister’s name and is bagging contracts worth crores of rupees in different divisions of the Works Department.

Authorities Silent, Unions Threaten Stir

Notably, earlier the owner of Panda Infra executing the Bomikhal flyover work, was arrested after a person died when a portion of the flyover collapsed. Similarly, a contractor Dillip Khatoi who was executing a work in the Biju Patnaik International Airport was blacklisted when a portion of a building collapsed killing a worker.

But the death of the worker while laying mastic asphalt has been hushed under the carpet by the Works Department authorities instead of filing a FIR against the contractor.

Meanwhile, several worker unions have warned that if action is not taken against the guilty contractor soon and compensation is not paid to the family of the deceased, they would take to the streets.