Congress Urges Chhattisgarh CM to Establish Dedicated Burn Unit After Vedanta Plant Tragedy
The Congress party in Chhattisgarh has made a strong appeal to the state's chief minister, urging the immediate establishment of a dedicated burn treatment unit. This demand follows the devastating accident at the Vedanta power plant in Sakti district, which resulted in the tragic deaths of over 21 labourers and left numerous others with severe injuries.
Call for Judicial Probe and Industrial Safety Audit
In a joint press conference held at Rajiv Bhawan, the party's state headquarters, Congress president Deepak Baij and leader of opposition Charan Das Mahant outlined their demands. They described the incident as a consequence of alleged gross negligence and called for a comprehensive judicial probe to be conducted under the supervision of the high court.
The leaders emphasized the need for a statewide industrial safety audit, citing alarming statistics of nearly 300 deaths in industrial accidents over the past two and a half years. They demanded strict legal action against those responsible, specifically invoking Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for culpable homicide, which could lead to at least a 10-year punishment for the guilty parties.
Critical Need for Advanced Burn Care Facilities
Highlighting the urgent medical requirements, Baij and Mahant pointed out that victims with over 70% burn injuries could have significantly better survival chances if referred to advanced facilities in cities like Hyderabad, Coimbatore, and Mumbai. However, they stressed that Chhattisgarh desperately needs its own specialized burn unit to provide immediate and effective care for such critical cases.
"Chhattisgarh needs its own burn unit," the leaders asserted, following their visit to the accident site the previous day. They also demanded specialized treatment for the injured in advanced burn centres and the establishment of a dedicated burn hospital within the state to prevent future tragedies from being compounded by inadequate medical infrastructure.
Allegations of Negligence and Safety Lapses
Raising serious concerns over industrial safety and tribal rights, the Congress leaders alleged gross negligence by both the company and the state industry department. They claimed that the tragedy could have been prevented with proper safety measures and regular inspections.
Baij specifically alleged that workers were forced to carry out hazardous tasks without necessary shutdowns or appropriate safety gear. Meanwhile, Mahant criticized the FIR filed against Vedanta management as weak, accusing the company of using substandard machinery and scrap materials, which he argued contributed to the accident.
Broader Political and Social Demands
In addition to the immediate demands related to the Vedanta accident, the Congress leaders also addressed broader issues. Baij opposed the Uniform Civil Code, expressing concerns that it could weaken tribal protections and facilitate land acquisition in tribal areas. He also criticized the linking of women's reservation to delimitation, demanding its implementation based on the current Lok Sabha strength after a fresh census is conducted.
The press conference underscored the party's commitment to advocating for both immediate relief measures and long-term policy changes to enhance safety and protect vulnerable communities in Chhattisgarh.
