Rajasthan Police disbanded District Special Team (DST) after the blast in the fireworks factory being operated illegally in the RIICO industrial area Bhiwadi.
The blast blew away the dirty nexus of officials and charred the accountability of officials deputed to ensure sanctity of the industrial area besides burning 7 innocent poor labourers alive.
However, RIICO – the custodian of the industrial area where the illegal activity was being carried out – is yet to take any action.
How the unit head of Bhiwadi -2 RIICO Industrial Area – Akhil Agrawal – was unaware of the illegal activities in a garment factory-turned fireworks factory?
Isn't Agrawal responsible for monitoring the industrial activities in RIICO Industrial Area?
Isn't it his (Akhil Agrawal's) responsibility to ensure that factories under his jurisdiction run as per their registration. How a garment factory was allowed to be rented to a fireworks manufacturer without the knowledge of authorities?
RIICO should take stern action
There are many questions which are unanswered and raise doubts on the functioning of Senior Regional Manager of RIICO – the custodian of that industrial area.
“The first step RIICO should take is to suspend the officer incharge of that unit where illegal factory was being operated under his nose. If it was not corruption then it was definitely sheer negligence which cost innocent lives. This negligence should cost him dearly,” said RC Jain, former IAS, who has worked as Advisor in RIICO and understands the responsibility of this organisations.
Ajay Singh Bhagwat, a senior counsel said that the negligence could have cost more had the factory been manufacturing illegal ammunition and bombs.
“It's a serious issue. What's the guarantee that RIICO industrial area, nerve centre for industrial growth, has not become hub of illegal activities. Who will be responsible if it becomes breeding ground of terror activities. Who is there to monitor?” asks Bhagwat.
The BuckStopper, run by a group of seasoned journalists, holds the powerful accountable. The buck stops with them, as they cannot shrug off their official responsibilities.
