Himachal: Industry found violating COVID-19 orders; closure ordered

Ambika Sharma
Tribune News Service
Solan, May 19

Tehsildar, Nahan, on Tuesday ordered the closure of an industrial unit, Ozone Secutech Private Limited, at Khairi village, Kala Amb, in Sirmaur district for violating orders and engaging 59 workers as against the permitted strength in its premises.

This is the first such factory to face such an action for violation of the orders in the state during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chauhan, who has been appointed as Incident Commander for Covid-related duties,  said the factory  was permitted to deploy only 27 workers as per May 4 orders and perusal of the records and investigations made by a task force headed by him and comprising additional SHO and revenue staff  revealed that the excess 32 workers were reporting for duty every morning.

They were illegally commuting from neighbouring   Haryana on their two-wheelers.

“The factory management as well as these workers wilfully violated the curfew norms and other guidelines of inter-state movement. The task force also examined the attendance sheet of workers of May 12 and May 13 and the undertaking submitted by the factory management for seeking permission to operate and observed that they violated the terms and conditions,” said Chauhan.

The workers were made to cross the border and further walk on foot during the curfew hours to work at the factory.

Though minimum strength of the workforce was supposed to be deployed and arrangements for ferrying or their stay in the factory premises were supposed to be made, but these orders were violated.

Chauhan said these violations pose a serious threat to the spread of Covid pandemic and permission to operate the factory has been withdrawn today.

The finished goods and raw materials are supposed to be evacuated and transported, if required as per the orders and if the factory was not closed within 72 hours it would be sealed and relevant legal action would also be taken against its management.