People's Democracy

The CPI(M) expresses its deep sorrow at the death of at least 13 construction workers at a site in South Delhi.   A delegation led by Brinda Karat,   Polit Bureau member and MP, Mohan Lal, general secretary of Delhi CITU, Jagdish Sharma, Asha Yadav and others visited the site.  They found that  the deaths were caused by the criminal negligence of the builders who did not ensure the  minimum safety norms. As a result, an over 50 ft wall of mud collapsed and the workers were buried under it.  This terrible tragedy underlines  the  blatant violation of safety norms and labour laws at construction sites across the capital.  In the context of the  building of several malls in Delhi, it is  essential that the condition of  work and  workers rights be protected.  It must be noted that many of these constructions are on DDA land directly under the central government.  The CPI(M) demands that the  government take necessary  measures to  ensure regular  inspections at the site to protect the workers.

The CPI(M) demands immediate  criminal prosecution of the builders and payment of adequate  compensation to the families of workers  who died.