PITIABLE PLIGHT!!! Sewer workers denied basic amenities
At last, the lid has been blown off the BMC contractors’ disgusting attitude towards their staff, especially those involved in the most menial tasks like cleaning the nullahs and gutters. Their inhuman approach towards their underlings lies exposed now.
With the monsoon imminent, the work of cleaning the gutters and nullahs through BMC’s contractors has started. But, despite the hazards involved in this lowly work, the workers are denied even the basic facilities, according to these workers who do their clean-up job before the onset of monsoon. However, the plight of these workers is, indeed, pitiable. They have been given only a couple of kits, much against the norms. They are being issued only one kit which is to be used as a measure of safety when they enter the manholes and nullahs.
Who is responsible??
Readers may be interested to note that these underground hell-holes lying closed since so many months are full of toxic gases like carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide and methane which lead to suffocation. Despite knowing the health hazards, the inhumane contractors compel the workers to enter the gutters without any safety kits. Actually, as per the rules, it is mandatory that the gutter cleaners are to be provided gas-cutter, torch, blower to blow out the noxious gases, gloves, goggles, gum boots, oxygen mask, ear plugs and helmet.
Yet, these poor workers enter the stink-holes with just a pair of gum boots. Readers may recall that long back the Bombay High Court that the work of cleaning the sewers and gutters should not be entrusted to contractors. Ignoring the High Court’s directives, this task is being entrusted to contractors who pay the workers a paltry amount of Rs. 300 to 400 only. Despite lack of safety kits, these hapless workers have to toil in the gutters, according to Mulund’s gutter cleaners.
The law in this respect is being unabashedly ignored. According to the court’s directive the contractor has to be supplied with the map of the sewer lines by the agency with the depth of the manhole mentioned therein. Moreover, a daily record of the work completed, health check-up records of the workers and necessary safety kits should be provided by the contractors. To add to this, adequate training has to be provided to the workers, ensure that chemicals are not dumped in the gutters along with the garbage, etc., is also the duty of the administration. This city has the facility of underground drainage but, unfortunately, the condemned sewer workers have no facilities at all. They have to enter the dark pits of hell and no one would accept responsibility for any fatalities. Yehi hai Mumbai ki dukhbhari dastan!! Suno, BMC!!!
When our correspondent quizzed Asst. Municipal Commissioner, Kishore Gandhi, about the pathetic plight of these workers, he said, ” When I visited the site the workers had been provided gloves, gum boots and helmets.However, in the case of gas cylinder the depth of the gutter should be at least ten feet. The present nullahs and gutters that are being cleaned are not that deep.”
