Finance Secy orders probe

Rajinder Nagarkoti

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 28

UT Finance Secretary Sarvjit Singh has ordered a probe into the death of a sewer worker while cleaning a blocked sewer line near the airport light point at Hallo Majra on Dakshin Marg today.

UT Finance Secretary Sarvjit Singh said the Engineering Department had been told to submit a report in this regard. The erring official and the contractor would not be spared, he said. 

“Though it is the contractor’s responsibility to provide safety equipment to sewer workers, the supervision was the responsibility of officials of the Engineering Department. Action will be taken against officials for their negligence,” he assured. 

According to information, the UT Engineering Department (Public Health Division) had allotted the cleaning work to contractor Prithviraj Sharma of RR Builders, Sector 46, Chandigarh. Sources added that as per the contract, it was the responsibility of the contractor to provide safety equipment and the department staff was responsible to ensure that the workers entered the sewer line with proper safety equipment. 

Last year, when three sewer workers died, the then SDM Kashish Mittal had held the contractor and the Municipal Corporation field staff responsible for their death after inhaling poisonous gases while cleaning a sewer line in the Industrial Area, Phase II.

In his report, Mittal had also suggested several measures to prevent such incidents in future.

Regarding the safety norms, Mittal had recommended that the authorities should adhere to the Indian Standard Code of Practice for Safety Precautions when entering a sewerage.

Recommendations  and safety norms

• The atmosphere needs to be tested for the presence of noxious gases and oxygen deficiency before entering a sewer line.
• If oxygen deficiency or presence of noxious gas is found, the structure shall be ventilated with pure air by keeping open at least one manhole cover each on the upstream and downstream side for quick exit of gases.
• The workers should be educated about hazards of water-borne diseases. Cuts should be covered with waterproof plasters.
• Gas test equipment should include safety candle lamps, safety lamps, lead acetate papers and electronic gas detectors.
• Workers inside the sewer line need to check the gas level every three minutes and also during the same duration, the worker outside of the sewer needs to check with the people about their status.