Another instance of manual scavenging spotted, in T Nagar

CHENNAI: Greater Chennai Corporation doesn’t seem to be taking rules on solid waste management seriously. Yet another instance of a conservancy worker clearing blocked sewer lines without any safety gear has come to light — this time in T Nagar.
A day after local administration minister S P Velumani told the assembly that local bodies did not have the practice of manual scavenging, TOI published pictures of men clearing a sewer in Koyambedu on Friday. On Saturday, five workers employed by A V Pachaiyappa Enterprises, contracted by the corporation, were seen manually cleaning sewers in T Nagar.
On Lakshmi Narasimhan Salai in T Nagar, the workers were scooping out sludge and silt from a sewer. When TOI photographer started taking pictures, the supervisor at the spot stopped him. Later, chief engineer for stormwater drains department L Nandakumar told TOI they had no other choice as machines can’t enter these open drains.
“We have placed orders for seven recyclers that are used to clean drains in Mumbai and other cities. But these machines are too big for narrow stretches. Moreover, our drain network is 1894-km long with silt formation of one to three feet,” he said. About safety gear, executive engineer Chinnadurai said they had instructed contractors and officials monitoring such work to ensure workers wear safety gear. “Often, workers don’t comply and contractors don’t insist on it. We have issued a showcause notice to the contractor.”
The civic body said in the past one year, about 15 such notices have been issued, but little has been done to create awareness or implement the norms.
As per the solid waste management rules, 2016, it was the duty and responsibility of the civic body to provide safety equipment to its workers. Also, the Supreme Court and high court orders have stated that such work cannot be carried out without safety gears.
Jagadish Hiremani, a member of the national commission for Safai Karamchari, told TOI, “The civic body cannot give lack of equipment as an excuse to immerse workers into filth and sludge. The corporation claims only five manual scavengers were identified as part of a re-survey that was conducted two months ago. However, as per our records, there are more than 350 people engaged in such work. In Andhra Pradesh, we identified 1,500 such workers, while the government refused to accept the numbers. After we inspected and provided proof, they had to document it. We will do the same in Chennai,” he said.
S P Velumani could not be reached for a comment on the issue.