Surat : Deaths of Migrant Workers Prompt Demands for Departmental Inquiry

Surat : The shocking and untimely demise of four migrant workers due to asphyxiation in a septic tank on November 14 at Baleshwar near Surat has sparked uproar and demands for accountability, leading to calls for a departmental inquiry against officials of the Baleshwar Village panchayat and the owners of Kiran Industries.

Social activist Darshan Naik has spearheaded these efforts, urging Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel to intervene and instigate a thorough investigation into the incident.

Naik’s letter to the Chief Minister highlighted alleged negligent practices and corruption involving Kiran Industries and the Baleshwar village panchayat officials. According to Naik, Kiran Industries allegedly colluded with the panchayat officers to evade hefty property tax payments. He also accused them of receiving undue benefits without proper assessments over an extended period, fostering an environment of corruption within the village.

The tragic incident unfolded when four migrant workers descended into a septic tank, which reportedly plunged 40 to 50 feet deep, without adequate safety precautions. Disturbingly, two of the deceased workers were transported without proper handling or covering in a tempo, adding further distress to the already grim situation.

Naik’s accusations extended to Kiran Industries, alleging their collaboration with village panchayat officers for under-assessing the textile mill and engaging in unauthorized construction activities. The activist asserted that such actions blatantly violated the Panchayat Act and other pertinent laws, all orchestrated for the benefit of Kiran Industries’ owners.

Expressing concern over substantial revenue losses, Naik claimed Kiran Industries had caused an estimated Rs 1.36 crore deficit to the State Government by evading property tax payments through the Baleshwar village panchayat.

The incident has not only brought to light the tragic loss of lives but also raised severe questions about the ethical and legal conduct of both the industrial entity and the responsible village panchayat. Naik’s demand for a comprehensive inquiry aims to hold those accountable who facilitated such perilous conditions and allegedly engaged in corrupt practices that led to this distressing tragedy.