Two panels to be formed to issue safety measures

CHANDIGARH: Haryana chief secretary PK Chaudhery on Monday ordered constitution of two committees to draft safety instructions on the technical and statutory aspects involved in the digging of borewell.

Presiding over a meeting to ensure strict regulation of borewell digging, excavations and other similar safety potential hazards, the chief secretary said the public works (building and roads) department would prepare draft instructions on technical aspects and the labour department would make draft instructions on statutory aspects.

“After finalising the draft, a copy of instructions should be forwarded to the deputy commissioners concerned for necessary implementation,” he said.

He also directed senior offi- cials to ensure strict compliance of safety measures while digging borewell to avert any untoward incidents.

The chief secretary said anyone who violated the safety norms would be severely punished.

He said a survey must be conducted by the urban local bodies department to identify open manholes across the state and necessary steps must be taken to cover them immediately.

Chaudhery said it was the responsibility of the government departments as well as private agencies involved in the construction work to provide security to labourers and their families at construction sites.

He also asked the officials to study the model of disaster management prepared by the Panipat administration.