Sewer death highlights negligence of Gzb Jal Nigam and contractual firm

Ghaziabad: The sewer death incident in Sihani Gate area of Ghaziabad highlighted sheer negligence on the part of Ghaziabad Jal Nigam board and contractual firm appointed to carry out the construction activity.

Locals alleged that earlier they have highlighted loopholes in construction work and laxity from the Jal board but their words turned on deaf ears. Taking cognisance into the matter, the district Magistrate has also ordered a probe into the matter.

According to a local person who is also an eyewitness into the case, these contractual labourers were not sanitation workers and they had no training to carry out such works.

"Any type of work carried out inside a sewer must be done by skilled labourers as it requires proper training and presence of safety equipments. However, all the persons who have died in the tragic incident were contractual labourers who are usually hired for construction works. They were not provided with any safety equipment nor do they knew how dangerous it could be to enter any such sewer which is filled with toxic fumes and poisonous gases," said Vikrant Pandit, a local person and functionary of a political party.

Pandit further alleged that they have reported the matter to administration and Jal board several times in past but no one paid heed to their words.

"We have sent several letters to administration and Jal nigam in past highlighting the loopholes in construction work. Even we have raised the matter through twitter addressing chief minister Yogi Adityanath, DM Ghaziabad and other concerned departments but no actions were taken. The fatal incident could have been averted if the officials had reacted to our complaints," added Pandit.

Dinesh Chandra, commissioner, Ghaziabad municipal corporation also admitted that the labourers working at the site were not provided with safety equipments after an inspection was carried by Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation and Jal Nigam officials.

Meanwhile the District Magistrate of Ghaziabad, Ajay Shankar Pandey has announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakhs each to the family of deceased and also ordered a probe into the case. The probe will be headed by Additional District Magistrate Shailendra Kumar Singh.