Industries Minister Uday Samant on Monday announced in the Legislative Council that the ministry will form a committee of experts to draft standard operating procedure (SOP) to prevent accidents due to under-construction structures in the state. Samant was responding to the 'calling attention' motion moved by Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC Sunil Shinde over the mishap in Worli in February, wherein two pedestrians died when a cement block fell from the 42nd floor of a high rise building under construction. Shinde had demanded that the government respond on the action taken against the developers, and measures taken to avoid such mishaps. Responding to it, Samant said that the kin of the deceased had been given a compensation of Rs 25 lakhs each. "We will form a committee to suggest measures for pedestrian safety at construction sites. This committee will create a detailed policy on this,” Samant said. Deputy Chairperson of the Legislative Council, Neelam Gorhe directed the opposition MLCs to submit a draft of the expected SOP to the state government and directed the state industries minister to incorporate suggestions given by MLC.
