Perilous machines: Revamp fodder-cutting machine design, says CM

Sharif says govt willing to extend subsidy

LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Friday that instances of people’s hands being chopped-off accidentally by fodder-cutting machines were unfortunate.

Sharif made the comments at a meeting organised at the Civil Secretariat to review recommendations to curb such incidents. The chief minister said there was a need to revamp security features in such machines to prevent such incidents. He said all departments had to work in tandem to curb such incidents. Sharif said requisite alterations should be made to machines to ensure people’s safety.

He said the government was ready to extend a subsidy in this regard. Sharif said the offer, however, was contingent on the formulation of a practical model. The chief minister said proposals in this regard should be finalised in consultation with all stakeholders and a plan should be formulated for its implementation.

Sharif said it would be binding on all manufacturers to install safety features in the machines once a design was approved. He said necessary amendments to the law should be considered in this regard.

The chief minister said design flaws in the machines should be quickly rectified to prevent such incidents.

He also ordered the formulation of a plan to secure insecticide sprayers. The chief minister said protective measures needed to be taken to protect people from the harmful effects of insecticides.

He said a protocol should be formulated in this regard and its effective implementation ensured.

The chief minister said this was of vital importance. Sharif said final recommendations in this regard should be presented in two weeks.

CM reviews progress

Presiding over a meeting convened to review progress on a project to extract mineral reserves in Rajoa, Sharif said the national economy could be strengthened by emploiting the mineral resources.  Sharif said the Minerals Department should work diligently and proactively. He said building the department’s capacity was the need-of-the-hour. Sharif said reforms were being introduced to reorganise the department. The chief minister said the project should be quickly executed.

Jurgen Harteish, a German expert, briefed those present on the pace of progress on the project.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 23^rd, 2016.