LG suspends two PWD engineers for sewer death

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 23

Lt Governor Anil Baijal today suspended two PWD engineers in connection with the death of a sanitation worker at the government-run LNJP Hospital while he was cleaning a sewer on Sunday.

The action came in the wake of 10 deaths of sanitation workers while cleaning sewers over a month. Baijal said there would be zero tolerance for negligence by officials in such incidents.

“Two PWD engineers suspended in the incident of unfortunate death of sewer worker on Sunday. Zero tolerance for negligence in such cases,” the Lt Governor tweeted.

A 45-year-old sewer cleaner had died and three others were taken ill while cleaning a sewer at the government hospital.

It is understood that a probe conducted by the PWD found both the engineers “negligent” and that they should have ensured that safety code is followed by the contractor.

In view of the deaths, it was also decided to fully mechanise the process of sewer cleaning and said violation would attract a punishment of up to life imprisonment.

Senior Delhi Jal Board officials have been directed to supervise cleaning of sewers where manual intervention is required, as per the government.

Meanwhile, representatives of unions, including the Dalit Shoshan Mukti Manch, the Centre for Indian Trade Union and the Janwadi Mahila Samiti, met Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal pressing for a ban on manual cleaning of sewers.