Thiruvananthapuram: Public works minister P K Basheer has said that there will be no compromise on safety at construction sites and strict action will be taken against those found responsible for lapses.Ensuring public safety at sites where construction activities are under way is the mandatory responsibility of both officials concerned and contractors, the minister said. He directed that proper barricades, warning boards and safety arrangements that are clearly visible at night must be installed wherever trenches or pits are dug. “No negligence of any kind will be tolerated in this regard,” he said.The minister described the death of a person who fell into an under-construction drain in Alappuzha as extremely tragic and painful. “No development activity is greater than the safety of human life,” he said.Against the backdrop of the incident, officials have been given urgent instructions to ensure strict compliance with safety standards at road construction sites. They have also been directed to inspect and ensure the availability of adequate safety arrangements at all major ongoing road works.Govt will examine whether there was any lapse in providing safety measures at the Alappuzha site, Basheer said. If any negligence is established, strict action will be taken against those responsible. Neither contractors nor officials concerned will be spared from accountability, he added.Govt’s position is that public safety must be given the highest priority while ensuring that development projects are completed expeditiously. The fact that construction work is under way should never become a reason for putting people’s lives at risk, Basheer said.Steps will also be taken to strengthen existing safety mechanisms to prevent such tragic incidents from recurring. “Development is for the people, and therefore govt will ensure that people’s lives and safety are protected at every stage of development,” Basheer said.
