Chinese workers to face investigation in 'chimney mishap'

New Delhi, Oct 1 (ANI): Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram has asked Chinese workers involved in the chimney collapse case to stay back and face investigation.

A large number of Chinese employees, mostly engineers, had fled from Korba in Chhattisgarh fearing that workers and even locals will attack them after the chimney at the power plant site collapsed on September 23.

SEPCO, a China-based company was given the contract to construct the thermal power planthe passport details were given to immigration authorities at all the airports and ports with instructions to ensure that none of them leaves the country

The central government had issued lookout notices at all the exit points against 89 Chinese engineers and workmen employed at the plant where the accident took place.

"It is necessary that all the 89 remains in India so that the investigating authority has access to whoever among the 89 who may have to be investigated. So it is no a very complex issue. But for the time being we have requested them to stay back, " said Chidambaram.

He also made it clear that visa applications of unskilled or semi-skilled workers wanting to come to India will not be encouraged.

"The policy is that we will not encourage applications for visas for unskilled and semi-skilled workers. Highly skilled and specially skilled workers of course will be allowed into the country," said Chidambaram.

Many foreign companies are willing to send their workers for setting up their projects in India. (ANI)