Despite fatal mishap, fencing of tank awaits repair

Ajay Joshi

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, April 22

Even after the broken fencing of the sewage disposal tank situated in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Colony here claimed the life of nine-year-old boy Aashu Sharma on April 11, the Municipal Corporation (MC) has neither covered the tank nor has any action been initiated regarding the permanent fencing of the place.

Lakhbir Singh Lakha, president of the colony, said they had been complaining about the wall fencing of the tank for a very long time, but no stringent action had been taken yet. Not only is it dangerous due to accidents, but there is the risk of diseases and foul smell. He added that the MC was, perhaps, waiting for another mishap to happen to build the fencing.

“After the shocking death of the grandson of former councillor Kasturi Lal Sharma, the MC should have taken the desired action quickly, but it’s been 12 days and no work has been initiated in this regard.”

Meanwhile, when a Tribune team went to the tank, the broken fencing was just covered with thin temporary wires and a lock was placed at its entrance. The other two tanks there remained unlocked and the electric meter having high-voltage current was also open. Lakhbir Singh said the whole day children play there and stray animals also wander at the place, so it’s necessary to construct a wall around the sewage tank.

The councillor of the area Shushil Kalia said they had started to build the proper fencing and shortly the ceiling of the tank would be covered with iron rods, but residents were demanding to construct walls around the tank so that these stay forever.

Also, the open covering of the sewerage tank would not prevent the spread of insects and bacteria. Many cases of cancer and kala azar had also occurred. Therefore, it should be covered with a proper roof, said Baldeep Singh, another resident.