PANAJI: State Chief Secretary Dharmendra Sharma told the Goa State Human Rights Commission (GSHRC) on Thursday that a compensation of ₹8,39,680 has been paid to the dependants of welder Saharul Sheikh, who was burnt to death on December 26 last year at the construction site of the third Mandovi Bridge.
In a reply to the complaint filed by activist and lawyer Aires Rodrigues, Mr. Sharma said the management of Larsen & Toubro, the construction company, has been directed to be more vigilant, in order to avoid such mishaps.
Mr. Rodrigues had drawn the commission’s attention to the case of 29-year-old Saharul, a native of West Bengal, and had expressed his apprehension that the authorities, taking advantage the victim’s economically poor background, could hush up the matter.
Contract basis
He had stated that he was employed on a contract basis with the construction firm, which had been given the work by Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC).
Safety standards
Mr. Rodrigues had also pointed out in his complaint that the authorities need to probe whether all the required safety standards were in place at the construction site, as Saharul reportedly fell into a deep trench containing hot tar while he was trying to do some welding work without wearing the appropriate safety gear.
He had also said that the authorities need to give details about what measures they intend to take to avoid such mishaps, which are in violation of human and fundamental rights.
