Chamoli electrocution : Magisterial inquiry recommends punitive action against STP operators
Finds short circuit in change over panel and poor electrical earthing as cause of the tragedy that claimed 16 lives
Sunday, 30 JULY 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The magisterial inquiry set up by the State government into the electrocution incident in the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) of Chamoli has found short circuit in the changeover panel and lack of proper electrical earthing in the plant as the cause of the accident in which 16 people died on July 19. In his report submitted on Saturday, the additional district magistrate of Chamoli, Abhishek Tripathi said that the plant lacked a Moulded Case Circuit Breaker (MCCB) which as per the report of the electricity department should have been attached with the MC junction box and its place a change over panel was being used. The inquiry also found that the earthing of the plant was also faulty due to which the current spread to the iron structure and railings of the STP. The officer also mentions lack of coordination between the employees of the electricity department and Jal Sansthan and lack of monitoring as causes of the accident.
The inquiry reveals that the joint venture firm Jai Bhushan Mallik Contractors and Confident Engineering India Private Limited, Coimbatore violated the contract it had with the department by not deploying employees as per the contract. It mentions that the director of Axis Power Controls, Delhi, Bhaskar Mahajan was working in the STP even though he was not the designated person of the joint venture firm. In his report Tripathi has recommended that the contract of the joint venture firm should be cancelled and it should be blacklisted along with the Axis Power Controls company of Bhaskar Mahajan in the entire country. It also recommends that the bank guarantee of Rs 110.75 lakh of the joint venture firm should be confiscated and legal action should be initiated against it. The magisterial inquiry recommends departmental action against the employees concerned for failing to monitor the plant and ensure that the provisions of the contract are being followed. The inquiry report suggests that an electrical safety audit of all the STPs of the State should be done so that the Chamoli STP incident does not get repeated.
Stating that the magisterial probe report had been received, chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that action will be taken on its findings. The guilty will not be spared. An FIR was lodged earlier and strict action is being taken by fixing the responsibility of officials,Dhami said.
On July 19 tragedy struck Chamoli when 16 persons died in an electrocution incident in the STP located on the banks of Alaknanda river in Peepalkoti. A total of 39 statements were recorded in the magisterial inquiry.
