The Maharashtra Legislative Assembly faced turmoil as opposition parties confronted the government regarding a major explosion at SBL Energy Limited in Raulgaon, Nagpur district, resulting in the tragic deaths of 18 workers. This led to a heated confrontation and eventual walkout by the opposition. State Labour Minister Akash Fundkar announced the official closure of the facility in response to the incident.
Ruling and opposition members expressed grief over the loss of lives and demanded strict action against the company management. Minister Fundkar emphasized the gravity of the situation, mentioning the invocation of charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. He also highlighted the state’s authority, under new labor laws, to promptly shut down companies upon identifying safety violations.
A thorough investigation is underway to probe alleged negligence by Labor Department officials, with a detailed report expected within eight days. The discussion was initiated through a ‘Calling Attention’ motion in the Assembly. Leader of the Congress Legislature Party, Vijay Wadettiwar, criticized the incident as a “massacre” resulting from collusion between the administration and the owners.
Wadettiwar pointed out various safety deficiencies, such as inadequate infrastructure, lack of expertise, administrative lapses, and negligence. He highlighted the absence of essential safety measures like fire pumps and CCTV surveillance, along with insufficient training for workers in handling explosives. The Factory Medical Officer allegedly never visited the site, and safety audits were reportedly missing, raising concerns about the integrity of safety clearances.
Minister Phadkar assured that appropriate legal actions would be pursued. However, the opposition expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s response, condemning its perceived indifference and staging a walkout.
