Chennai: The CPI (M) has urged the authorities to increase the compensation for the families of nine migrant workers killed in the fall of the scaffolding at the ENOR thermal power plant and demanded immediate improvement in workplace security.
In a statement released on Thursday, CPI (M) Tamil Nadu State Secretary P. Shanmugam expressed “deep condolences and solidarity” with the families of the victims.
The accident occurred on September 30 at a construction site in Vailour village in Thiruvallur district, where workers of North India were engaged in construction of a new unit when a big scaffolding a sudden way.
Nine workers died on the spot, while another remains in critical condition. Officials said it was a second fatal accident on the same site in two months.
The party rapidly criticized the Tamil Nadu Electrical Board and the Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited (BHEL) to fail to maintain adequate security protocols.
The statement said, “This tragic incident reflects a great disregard for human life and labor rights,” the statement said that the state government has been asked to initiate action against the companies that “the workers continue to ignore welfare despite repeated accidents”.
The Tamil Nadu government has so far announced a pre -Rs 10 lakh Gratia for each bereaved family, while the Center has promised Rs 2 lakh. However, CPI (M) said that the quantity was insufficient in the light of repeated laps. This demanded that BHEL should pay an additional ₹ 25 lakh to each family and cover up advanced medical treatment for the injured.
Beyond immediate relief, the party pressurized for structural changes to protect the rights and lives of migrant workers that create a large part of the Industrial Task Force of Tamil Nadu. This urged strict enforcement of labor safety norms, regular inspection of large construction projects, and accountability mechanisms for contractors and public sector undertakings.
Shanmugam said, “The government should ensure that migrant workers have not been exploited or not insecure,” should be guaranteed to compliance with fair wages, social security and labor laws.
The CPI (M) also demanded that the Tamil Nadu government established a strong monitoring system to prevent future industrial accidents, warning that “the continuous loss of life could not be tolerated due to official apathy.”
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