Bus utility drives on without key licence

This is the second time, after last February, that PMPML has been admonished for lack of valid documents. 8220;The occupier of the factory is found using the above premises as a factory without obtaining a valid licence as required under the Factories Act 1948,8221; the notice said. As the Pune station depot, representative of other depots, has been manufacturing related machines like grinding, compressors, electric battery chargers, hand drilling, car washing, and welding machines with more than 10 workers, it constitutes a factory.

PMPML spokesman Deepak Pardeshi said that the company had asked for time to file the requisite documents. The inspection was conducted at the Pune station bus depot on November 26 and PMPML was given seven days to respond.

8220;We have asked the department for more time to complete the procedure,8221; Pardeshi said. 8220;The depot is a recent one and all procedures need to be completed,8221; he added.

The notice also goes on to say that the factory does not have any plans for the factory building, machinery lay-out, and site approved from the Additional Director of Industral Safety and Health.

Of a more serious nature is the charge that the company has been lax towards an accident that occurred at its premises in the Pune station area in early November, when worker D V Veer injured his hand while working on a grinding machine.

8220;It was a serious accident and the occupier/ manager of the factory ought to have reported the same to the factory inspector within four hours of the happening and the same should have been informed in writing,8221; the notice said.

It was in last February that a similar inspection was conducted at the General Workshop at Shankarsheth Road. The indictment of the company was more severe on that occasion.

The factory inspector had pulled up the company for terrible working conditions and for not procuring a new license. It pointed out a 8220;leakage8221; near the toilet blocks as well as lack of restrooms, shelter rooms, lunchrooms, and clean drinking water facilities. There were insufficient measures to extinguish fires, owing to a lack of fire buckets or working extinguishers, and loose electrical wirings and switchboards.

A factory inspector said that some steps were being taken by PMPML. 8220;Our job is not to penalise any company but to ensure that they take corrective measures. We will keep at it till they make the changes,8221; he said.