In a bid to avert unfortunate mishaps of building collapse, the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today announced to conduct special safety audit in all the industrial units and cities across the state by the departments of Industries and Local Government respectively to ascertain both the latent and patent defects in the buildings responsible for such disastrous mishaps.
Talking to the media persons after visiting the site of factory building which collapsed here in the focal point on Sunday night thereby claiming the lives of six persons, besides rescuing 60 persons of which, 50 have been discharged from the hospitals after treatment, Mr. Badal said that the safety audit would be a regular feature in future to ensure the safety and worthiness of the building besides the security of the people. Mr. Badal categorically said that the owner of the building would be solely responsible for any act of negligence in case of the collapse of building and would not be spared in any case. Mr. Badal said that he came to know about this tragedy at Nanded though he was physically present there but mentally here. He was in touch with his Principal Secretary Mr. S.K. Sandhu who briefed him about the entire incident besides the status of on going rescue operations from time to time. Expressing profound grief and shock over this tragedy emotionally surcharged Mr. Badal said, "I have no words to offer my condolences with the next of the kin of deceased and persons injured in this mishap as I have been badly shaken by this incident". He said all the guilty involved in this unfortunate incident would be punished as the law of the land would take its own course. He said though the loss of the lives in this unfortunate mishap could not be compensated in terms of money but in this hour of distress the government has decided to give Rs. two lac as ex-gratia grant in case of death besides Rs. 65000 and Rs. 45000 for the seriously injured and persons with minor injuries respectively. Mr. Badal also asked the Deputy Commissioner to ensure the best possible treatment free of cost to the injured.
Mr. Badal further announced to hold two more inquiries in addition to one already been ordered by him to be conducted by the Commissioner Jalandhar pision to probe into all the possible factors and circumstances that led to such a disastrous mishap beyond any one's imagination. He said another inquiry would be held by a team of the senior police officers led by Superintendent of Police Mr. Navjot Singh Mahal under the direct supervision of Police Commissioner Jalandhar Mr. Gaurav Yadav to look into the criminal aspect of the mishap. Likewise, a technical inquiry would also be conducted jointly by the Technical Advisor to Punjab Government Lt. Gen. (Retd.) B.S. Dhaliwal, Head of the Civil Engineering Department of PEC University, Chandigarh and PWD (B&R) Engineer-in-Chief R.P. Singh to look into the technical flaws and shortcomings which led to the collapse of this building. The Chief Minister has sought the final reports of all these inquiries within three weeks. Replying to an other query, the Chief Minister also announced to further strengthen the state level disaster committee thereby making it far more efficient and result oriented after removing the shortcomings and other bottle necks in its functioning. He also announced to set up a National Disaster Rapid Force Centre in Punjab in an area of 50 to 60 acres to accommodate sufficient number of NDRF companies to combat any such unforeseen eventualities or other natural disaster like floods and earth quack.
Prominent amongst others who were present on the occasion included Revenue and Rehabilitation Minister Ajit Singh Kohar, K.D. Bhandari, Sohan Singh Thandal and Mohinder Kaur Josh (all CPSs) besides Principal Secretary to Chief Minister S.K. Sandhu, Principal Secretary Industries and Commerce A.R. Talwar and Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Gaggandip Singh Brar.