Press Release

Dated 1st August, 2014

The National Human Rights Commission has taken cognizance of a complaint that a building's wall collapsed on the 5th July, 2014 at Upparapalayam Village, near Red hills lake in Thiruvallur District, Tamil Nadu in which about 11 construction workers from Andhra Pradesh died and few others were grievously injured. A lot of godowns were constructed without the approval of Local Planning Authority in Red hills area which is a wetland protected under the Wetland Conservation and Management Rules, 2010.

Justice D. Murugesan, Member, NHRC has observed that the allegations raise a serious issue of violation of human rights and issued a notice today to the Chief Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu calling for a report in the matter within four weeks.

This tragedy occurred within a week from the collapse of Moulivakkam Chennai building in which 61 people had lost life. The complainant has alleged that the Government of Tamil Nadu has miserably failed to protect the life of innocent, oppressed and poor construction workers as its officials allowed illegal constructions by flouting the rules regarding building construction approval, soil test etc

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