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Public Health / Sanitation

Sent deep into drain without breathing gear, 2 die

Friday, 21 May 2010 11:44 administrator
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Indian Express   21.05.2010

Sent deep into drain without breathing gear, 2 die

Express News Service Tags : civic workers death in drain, mumbai Posted: Fri May 21 2010, 23:17 hrs

 Mumbai:

 Death in drain

 The manhole at Kalachowkie Prashant Nadkar

Two labourers died on Thursday after entering a century-old, 20-foot-deep drain without breathing apparatus.

They had been working on strengthening the drain on GD Ambedkar Road at Kalachowkie. Site supervisor Ashok Chaudhary was arrested and booked for culpable homicide.

Uma Krushnan Kalia Perumal, 25, and Pandian Chatla Perumal, 22, lived on Reay Road and worked for Rs 125 a day. They had been hired by a BMC-appointed contractor, RPS Mehta Pvt Ltd.

The drain is meant for storm water but had sewage flowing inside, probably due to ruptures, civic officials said. Deputy chief engineer (storm water drains) P J Shah said, “We had ordered the contractors to stop work by May 15 on account of the monsoon and they sent us a letter saying work had been stopped on May 15. Why labourers were on the site on Thursday and what they were doing is not in the BMC’s knowledge.”

“Work had stopped on May 15,” said Piyush Mehta, co-owner of the contracted firm. “On Thursday, the workers were only asked to go inside to check the flow. There was no supervisor on the site.” He said it was bad luck they had no breathing apparatus after work had ended. “When work is on, we install exhaust fans at both ends and provide workers breathing apparatus.”

“The contractors are lying,” said Krishnamurthy Natrajan, brother-in-law of Uma Krushnan. “The workers never had breathing apparatus or gumboots when they entered.”

Uma Krushnan is survived by his wife and a two-year-old daughter; Pandian Chatla by a pregnant wife. “She is inconsolable. They got married less than a year ago,” said Pandian Chatla’s uncle Rajendra, adding the family had lost its sole earning member.

  This was not the first such incident. In 2008, two contract labourers died inside a manhole at Kamraj Nagar in Ghatkopar.

According to RTI data, 4,809 labourers are working with the sewerage department for maintenance of sewer lines and clearing the network if choked. The BMC says they are provided oxygen masks, safety shoes, respirators, hand gloves and helmets, but 31 labourers have died at work between 2003 and 2008.

Last Updated on Friday, 21 May 2010 11:46
 

Plastic invasion clogs drains

Friday, 21 May 2010 10:32 administrator
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The New Indian Express     21.05.2010

Plastic invasion clogs drains

KOCHI: With the advent of premonsoon showers, plastic waste dumped in the drains and canals in the city is blocking the flow of water resulting in the inundation of many busy thoroughfares.

Though the Corporation started cleaning sewerage canals before the onset of monsoon, the work is still pending in most parts of Kochi.

“We have cleaned many canals. The main waste is pet bottles. We can easily remove silt from the canals but pet bottles dumped in the drains and canals create blocks which are hard to remove,” said a worker engaged in cleaning the drain at Madhava Pharmacy Junction.

People usually throw pet bottles into the drains. It won’t create much problem during summer. But once it starts raining the drains get clogged.

During the cleaning process we have recovered a large quantity of pet bottles from the drains,” the worker said.

Corporation Works Standing Committee Chairman Anil Kumar said that the Corporation was contemplating on devising means to deal with the plastic waste clogging the city drains.

“Plastic waste is a growing issue.

The Corporation will ask shopkeepers not to dump plastic waste into drains and canals. The public should be made aware of this. They too are responsible to keep the drains free of pet bottles and other plastic waste." "The Corporation is planning to erect sign boards to create awareness among the public in this regard,” he said.

Last Updated on Friday, 21 May 2010 10:34
 

MCD to make new loos theft-proof

Friday, 21 May 2010 05:38 administrator
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Hindustan Times     21.05.2010

MCD to make new loos theft-proof

To safeguard their expensive waterless urinals, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has now decided to construct these urinals sans the toilet bowl.

According to the civic agency, the toilet bowl will only be fitted once they hire a private company to maintain it.

"The heart of the system is the special chemical cartridge, which is fitted in the ceramic bowl and is very expensive. If that is stolen it will be a costly affair to replace it," said a senior MCD official.

The civic agency is supposed to construct 1,000 such urinals ahead of the Commonwealth Games. The cost of one waterless urinal is Rs. 4.5 lakh.

"The company will be responsible for the security of these urinals in case they are stolen or vandalised," added the official.

The MCD councillors are also planning to take up the issue  of theft in the next meeting of the MCD House.

"More than 40 fancy lights costing Rs. 5 lakh were set up in my araea and barely a few days later, the fittings of 18 streetlights were stolen," said Rekha Gupta, a councillor from Pitampura.

"We will be installing  street furniture in our area too and their security is a big cause of concern now."

 
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