Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, December 13
A day after an employee fainted while cleaning a sewer here, the sewer men union has demanded that an FIR be registered against the persons who allegedly forced the sewer man to enter the manhole without safety gear.
Pardeep fainted when he entered a manhole in Ward Number 3 on Wednesday. He has been admitted to Christian Medical College and Hospital. His condition is said to be stable.
Aman Kumar of the Sewer Men and Karamchari Association said Pardeep’s condition was improving. He was forced to enter the manhole by some persons, he added.
“The Supreme Court has banned manual scavenging, but this practice is still going on in the city. No official was present when the sewer man entered the manhole yesterday. Nobody had provided Pardeep with any safety kit. The police should register an FIR against the persons who are at fault,” he said.
Executive Engineer of MC Pardeep Saluja said some private persons had asked the sewer men to clean the sewer. “As it was a government holiday on Wednesday, the official staff had not given any instructions to the sewer men to clean the sewer. We are looking into the matter,” he said.
Basti Jodhewal SHO Gurbinder Singh said the sewer man refused to make a statement today. “We will take further action only after getting his statement,” he said.
MC yet to purchase machines
The civic body has failed to implement the court orders to stop manual scavenging in the city. Though the officials claim the safety kits are available, sewer men are generally seen working without oxygen masks and other safety gear. Sources say the sewer men are forced to enter manholes without safety gear. An official said there was a major requirement of new small jetting and vacuum machines for cleaning choked sewers.
‘No official was present there’
"The Supreme Court has banned manual scavenging, but this practice is still going on in the city. No official was present when the sewer man entered the manhole yesterday. Nobody had provided Pardeep with any safety kit. The police should register an FIR against the persons who are at fault." Aman Kumar, Sewer Men and Karamchari Assn
Most Read In 24 Hours
Don't Miss
View All
Top News
Israel attacks Iran's air base, sources say, drones reported over Isfahan
Iran fires air defence batteries at Isfahan air base and nuc...
2 Indian-origin men among 6 arrested in Canada's biggest-ever heist; Here is how $22.5 million were robbed from Toronto's main airport
Parmpal Sidhu, 54, and Amit Jalota, 40, both from Ontario, w...
2 Indian students drown after they fell in river while hiking in Scotland
Their bodies were recovered by a rescue team from the water ...
Lok Sabha elections 2024: Tripura records highest turnout in initial hours, stray incidents of violence in Bengal
Minor EVM glitches were reported at some booths in Tamil Nad...
Central Consumer Protection Authority asks FSSAI to probe claim of Nestle adding sugar to baby products
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPC...
