THANE: Families of three workers who died while cleaning a sewage treatment plant at Pride Presidency Luxuria, a gated complex in Dhokali, Thane, in May 2019, will get compensation of Rs 10lakh each from the Thane Municipal Corporation.
Additional municipal commissioner, Ganesh Deshmukh, made the announcement following a meeting with members of the National Commission for Safai Karmacharis, Thursday. Deshmukh also informed the committee about the decision to make those hiring workers responsible for their safety and liable in case of their death.
"The general body approved our proposal to compensate families of the workers following repeated reminders from the state and the national commissions. We have informed the commission that the amount will be paid by the corporation to the family members of the deceased by next week and the amount reimbursed from the society through property tax bills," said Deshmukh.
Shiv Sena corporator Naresh Manera sought to know why no action was proposed against contractors who had deployed workers without providing safety gear, while BJP corporator Sandeep Lele questioned the rationale behind punishing the society. The House also sought to know steps taken to curb this illegal practice. The administration contended holding the society liable to pay compensation would act as a deterrent, following which the proposal was approved.
Meanwhile, the TMC assured it would step up work on expanding its sewerage line network and would also approach societies to stop using septic tanks.