Despite death, Ghaziabad to leave drains open
14 July 2012 1:08 AM GMT
Amid demands to cover open drains in the wake of an incident in which a four-year-old boy drowned in a drain and died on Thursday in Vashundara, the commissioner of Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam has shown surprising insensitivity and said all the drains in Ghaziabad would be opened. He asserted that Nagar Nigam has no provision to cover the drains and covering the drains by private persons or organisations is illegal hence would be demolished to clear the drain.
‘Covering the drains in not in our provision and is against the rules of Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam. We will destroy the illegal covering and open all the drains in the city. I came to know that private persons have covered the drains in the city in front of their houses, shops and markets; all such covered drains would be opened at the earliest,’ said Jitender Kumar Singh, Commissioner, Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam. Singh contended that covering the drains creates problem in cleaning, causing water-logging in Ghaziabad city.
According to Singh, the police officers who wrote to the Water and Drainage Department of the Nagar Nigam, asking them to cover the drain were clearly acting out of their purview. ‘Who is Station House Officer [SHO] to ask us to cover the drain. We are guided by our rules and regulations and we would clear all illegal covering over the drains in the Ghaziabad as soon as possible,’ added Singh.
The commissioner also denied the existence of any guideline or direction or provision or court order to cover the open drain in the area. He also stated that they do not have any plan or budget to cover the drains. ‘But we would launch a drive to reopen the covered drains by demolishing the illegal constructions over it.’
Meanwhile, the part of the drain where Ganesh alias Sunny fell to death on Thursday remained open even after 24 hours of the incident and not even a single employee of Nagar Nigam visited the place. ‘Several police officers, media and public persons visited the site but we did not notice any single officer of the Nagar Nigam to visit the site. The drain in which Sunny fell on Thursday is still open and in the same situation,’ said Sunil Tondon, a trader of the area pointing at the drain. The part the drain was open till the time Ghaziabad M P and Senior BJP leader visited the spot on Friday evening.
OPEN DRAINS MUST BE COVERED: BJP
The member of Parliament from Ghaziabad Rajnath Singh on Friday afternoon visited the site where a four year old school boy was drowned to death. Singh also visited the family of the deceased child and consoled them.
Talking to the media, he demanded the administration to cover all the open drains in the city and assured the family to raise the matter before Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. He demanded immediate action against the responsible persons.
‘The administration must fix the responsibility of the incident and take action against the officers concerned. All the open drains and manholes in Ghaziabad must be covered soon to protect the life of citizens, particularly children,’ said Rajnath Singh, MP from Ghaziabad and former National President of BJP. ‘We will soon submit a report about the open drains and manholes in the city to the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav for necessary action and budget allocation,’ added Singh.
When asked that Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam has denied to cover the drains. Singh said,’ Its a matter of public concern, It's the government to decide who covers the drains but they must be covered to save the lives,’. Singh also visited the residence of deceased child and assured his parents for justice. ‘I will also recommend the administration and write to Chief Minister to give appropriate compensation to the family,’ said Singh. The BJP leader also blamed the insensitivity of the administration and government for the happening.
‘Covering the drains in not in our provision and is against the rules of Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam. We will destroy the illegal covering and open all the drains in the city. I came to know that private persons have covered the drains in the city in front of their houses, shops and markets; all such covered drains would be opened at the earliest,’ said Jitender Kumar Singh, Commissioner, Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam. Singh contended that covering the drains creates problem in cleaning, causing water-logging in Ghaziabad city.
According to Singh, the police officers who wrote to the Water and Drainage Department of the Nagar Nigam, asking them to cover the drain were clearly acting out of their purview. ‘Who is Station House Officer [SHO] to ask us to cover the drain. We are guided by our rules and regulations and we would clear all illegal covering over the drains in the Ghaziabad as soon as possible,’ added Singh.
The commissioner also denied the existence of any guideline or direction or provision or court order to cover the open drain in the area. He also stated that they do not have any plan or budget to cover the drains. ‘But we would launch a drive to reopen the covered drains by demolishing the illegal constructions over it.’
Meanwhile, the part of the drain where Ganesh alias Sunny fell to death on Thursday remained open even after 24 hours of the incident and not even a single employee of Nagar Nigam visited the place. ‘Several police officers, media and public persons visited the site but we did not notice any single officer of the Nagar Nigam to visit the site. The drain in which Sunny fell on Thursday is still open and in the same situation,’ said Sunil Tondon, a trader of the area pointing at the drain. The part the drain was open till the time Ghaziabad M P and Senior BJP leader visited the spot on Friday evening.
OPEN DRAINS MUST BE COVERED: BJP
The member of Parliament from Ghaziabad Rajnath Singh on Friday afternoon visited the site where a four year old school boy was drowned to death. Singh also visited the family of the deceased child and consoled them.
Talking to the media, he demanded the administration to cover all the open drains in the city and assured the family to raise the matter before Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. He demanded immediate action against the responsible persons.
‘The administration must fix the responsibility of the incident and take action against the officers concerned. All the open drains and manholes in Ghaziabad must be covered soon to protect the life of citizens, particularly children,’ said Rajnath Singh, MP from Ghaziabad and former National President of BJP. ‘We will soon submit a report about the open drains and manholes in the city to the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav for necessary action and budget allocation,’ added Singh.
When asked that Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam has denied to cover the drains. Singh said,’ Its a matter of public concern, It's the government to decide who covers the drains but they must be covered to save the lives,’. Singh also visited the residence of deceased child and assured his parents for justice. ‘I will also recommend the administration and write to Chief Minister to give appropriate compensation to the family,’ said Singh. The BJP leader also blamed the insensitivity of the administration and government for the happening.
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