A man was arrested on Wednesday in connection with the death of a worker while cleaning a sewer at the Delhi government-run Lok Nayak Hospital (LNJP) in central Delhi, the police said. Prem Sagar, who works as a storekeeper at the hospital, was arrested for alleged negligence.
Toxic gas
The incident in question involves four workers who had entered a sewer last week. They lost allegedly consciousness due to toxic gases. One person died and two others fell ill.
In a related development, Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal took to Twitter to announce that two engineers had been suspended in connection with the incident. “Two PWD engineers suspended in the incident of unfortunate death of sewer worker on Sunday. Zero tolerance for negligence in such cases,” Mr. Baijal tweeted.
At a meeting convened by him a day later in reaction to the incident, the L-G directed the authorities concerned to come up with a plan for migration to 100% mechanisation for cleaning of sewers and drains within 15 days.
In addition, the L-G had told government departments to institute a Standard Operating Procedure for emergency manual cleaning as per law within seven days. He also stressed the need for intensive publicity of rules and laws to be carried out for strict observance by contractors.
Mr. Baijal, according to Raj Niwas, also directed the Delhi Police to take stringent and deterrent action against those contractors who violate the law and was informed that the police have already booked the concerned contractor for culpable homicide, in what he had termed a “tragic incident.”
Report in 15 days
Delhi Jal Board chairperson and Social Welfare Minister Rajendra Pal Gautam, who attended the meeting called by the L-G, later said the government had decided that contractors who used manual labour to clean sewers would be charged with murder instead of negligence if workers lost their lives.
Mr. Gautam added that a report would be prepared within 15 days about machines available for cleaning of drains.