A day after a steam-pipe burst in Thermal Power Station-I of the Neyveli Lignite Corporation killed an engineer and injured five workers, two recognised unions staged a demonstration on Wednesday, urging the management to give priority to safety over production targets.
The Labour Progressive Front and the Anna Wokers’ and Staff Union urged the management to institute an inquiry and act against officials lax in implementing safety measures.
SafetyThey also demanded foolproof safety in all thermal plants and mines, and compensation to the family of Selvaraj, chief manager (mechanical), TPS-I.
NLC Chairman-cum-Managing Director B. Surender Mohan said compensation and other benefits would be given to the family as per the rules.
Contract workers Jyothi, 43, and Balaraman, 53, were discharged from a Puducherry hospital and three others were recovering at a Chennai hospital.
Labour Progressive Front general secretary S.Rajavanniyan told the reporters that the management seemed obsessed with increasing production and productivity.
Regardless of the pressure exerted on the NLC by other State agencies, it was unrealistic to expect a thermal plant of more than 50 years to yield maximum output.
