In a case of sheer negligence, a sanitation worker died in a manhole early on Tuesday morning. The worker died due to asphyxiation.
It was seen in a CCTV footage that the sanitation worker entered the manhole to clean it. Also, according to sources, a civic body employee was on the spot when the worker went down the manhole.
Cleaning of drains was going on at Jamalpur near to Hotel Riaz, for which a worker named Dalsukh was assigned.
Family members of Dalsukh are alleging that his supervisor had asked him to go down. “Dalsukh went down because his supervisor asked him to go down. He had no protection gear at that time. We want immediate suspension of the supervisor,” said a relative of the deceased. “We want compensation and a job for the victim’s family member,” added the relative.
The civic body official said that the contract work was given to a private contractor. Talking about the same, Mukesh Gadhvi, deputy municipal commissioner said, “The matter is under investigation. On primary level, the contractor has been found guilty. When we give a contract to private players, we seek their written assurance that they will take life insurance policy of the employees worth Rs 10 lakh as per the judicial guidelines.”
The central zone of civic body is investigating the matter. Kirit Rathod, programme manager of Navsarjan said, “this is sheer negligence. Irrespective of who is conducting the cleaning, one can not ask the sanitation worker to go down the catchpit. This is inhuman and illegal,” he said.
“The local authorities are violating court rules. Around 10 to 12 similar deaths occur in Gujarat every year and also, families are not given any compensation,” said Rathod.
‘NO SAFETY EQUIPMENT GIVEN’
- CCTV footage showed that the sanitation worker entered the manhole to clean it
- Police say case of negligence on part of the AMC sanitation contractor, as no safety measures like providing safety mask or safety equipment was taken for workers entering the manholes
- A complaint was lodged against private contractor Darpan Vailmiki Sangh
