CM Pinarayi Vijayan takes note of press'ing needs

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Saturday that  the government will improve the conditions at  the central press here. The chief minister’s statement came in the wake of a surprise check carried out by him on the premises.

“The present condition of the central press is creating apprehensions in the minds of the staff.  The building is in a dilapidated condition. Employees have informed me that many chemical substances have been carelessly dumped on the premises which can cause even cancer,” he said.

The chief minister said that huge quantities  of waste products were  abandoned on the press premises which need to be removed. Many departments give print order of lakhs of copies of pamphlets and other documents. But they take back only 50,00o odd copies leaving the rest on the press premises. Heaps of such waste material are  lying all over the place.

Mr Pinarayi Vijayan,  who also holds the portfolio of printing and stationery,  said the government would take strong action against such departments.  “It is the responsibility of the officials of these departments to clear off the waste material at their own cost,” he said.

The central press established in 1838 prints the bulk of government documents, including budget papers and gazette.  Though it is one of the oldest printing presses in the state, there has not been any maintenance happening here.  As a result,  the entire structure is in a bad condition.

The material, including ink,  being used for printing is being dumped everywhere. There is no waste disposal or proper incineration facility. Many of the chemicals and other substances used for printing are being burnt in the open space causing pollution and also posing a threat to the health of the staff. The chief minister assured the staff that the government would look into all these issues and take steps for improving the condition of  the central press.