Mizoram Stone Quarry Tragedy: Construction company flouted norms, says Mizoram Students Union

MSU President Samuel Zoramthanpuia says MSU conducting spot inspections and has urged construction companies not to violate rules

Reported by Issac Zoramsanga

Three days after the tragic stone quarry collapse accident killing at least 12 people in Mizoram, the Mizoram Student Union (MSU) has said that the construction company, Anupam Bricks and Concrete Industries Limited or ABCIL, had flouted norms leading to the tragedy.

The company is engaged in the construction and widening of National Highway No 54 between Hnahthial town and Zobawk village sector in Mizoram.

Speaking to Northeast Live, MSU President Samuel Zoramthanpuia said that the construction company did not follow norms while operating the quarry and carrying out blasts at the site near Maudarh village in Hnahthial district of Mizoram. “If the safety norms in consultation with the Department of Geology and Mining were followed, such a tragic incident and the loss of lives would have been avoided,” Zoramthanpuia said.

Also Read: Mizoram Stone Quarry Tragedy: 2 more bodies found

The MSU President urged all the construction companies working in the state to follow norms for the safety of all and avoid a repeat of such a tragedy.

MSU President Zoramthanpuia also said that the Student Union has taken cognisance of the complaints and reports from citizens about the reckless and unscrupulous practices being followed by contractors and construction companies engaged in the widening and construction work of National Highways or state highways in Mizoram through the NHIDCL.

“MSU has taken up the issue with utmost seriousness and concern in order to prevent any damage being caused to the roads, environment and natural resources of the state,” Zoramthanpuia said.

Also Read: Mizoram Stone Quarry Tragedy: PM Modi announces Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia for the deceased

Zoramthanpuia also said that MSU has carried out spot inspections and they witnessed some firms or companies indulging in unscrupulous and unethical measures to make huge profits. “We did find that companies are neglecting basic quality standards like using hard enough boulders/stones, sub-standard sand, and other sub-standard raw materials including cement, iron bars etc.,” Zoramthanpuia said.

At least 12 people lost their lives after a stone quarry they were working in caved in trapping them inside. The incident took at a road widening and construction site near Maudarh village in Hnahthial district of Mizoram.
Copy edited by Lipika Roy

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