BHARATIYA Janata Party (BJP) MLA Ajay Chandrakar, Leader of Opposition in Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly Dr Charan Das Mahant, BJP MLAs Dharamjeet Singh and Anuj Sharma raised the issue of violation of security norms in indus trial units of State through a call attention motion in the House on the third day of Winter session on Tuesday. BJP MLA Ajay Chandrakar alleged in the Assembly that industrial units in Chhattisgarh are violating security norms, leading to frequent accidents. He cited the death of four workers in an incident at R K Power Plant, where six others were injured.

 

Additionally, six workers died at Godavari Ispat Ltd in Siltara, Raipur district, on September 26, while one labourer was killed and six injured at NTPC on August 6, Over the last 13 months, 17 such incidents have occurred in state industrial units, claiming more than 40 lives and raising serious concerns, he added. In a written reply, Industries and Labour Minister Lakhanlal Dewangan informed the House that the Department of Industries and Commerce conducted 1,266 inspections in 2024, imposing fines totaling 97.13 lakh and registering 373 cases in labour courts.

 

In 2025 (up to now), 916 inspections have been carried out, with 266 criminal cases registered and fines of 5.67 crore levied. Officials are regularly inspecting units to enforce security compliance, the minister stated. Responding to BJP MLA Dharamjeet Singh’s demand for fire audits across all industrial units in January, Minister Dewangan announced that such audits will be conducted statewide. In a separate call attention motion, Congress MLA Ambika Markam highlighted the damaged buildings of 18 schools in Nagri block under Sihawa Assembly constituency, urging their reconstruction. School Education Minister Gajendra Yadav assured the House that the structures would be repaired and rebuilt.