Officials’ apathy turns manhole into deathtrap for workers

The incident that took place in East Mogappair in the city has once again brought to focus apathy of officials.

Sources said that the board has 522 contractual field workers deployed in 15 zones of the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC). However, the area engineers (AEs) in their respective zones are not monitoring the workers whether they wear hand gloves, full face mask and safety helmet. 

A contractual worker, said, “Workers are pressurised to take up work inside manholes immediately by officials. In such a situation, we need to enter the manholes without safety gear.” 

Staff at the metro water training centre said workers are taught to handle sewage-related emergency. “In this case, had the workers worn breathing apparatus, there would have been no issue,” a staffer said. 

A senior official, CMWSSB, said, “A few workers are taking up such work without informing area officials concerned. We provide necessary safety material, but they fail to use them.” Asked why workers should enter the manholes when the board has equipment like super sucker and jet rodding machines, the official said, “Workers themselves enter the manholes without our knowledge.”

Metro Water Board officials said following the death of a labourer, work will resume only after superintending engineers are satisfied with availability of safety gear in adequate numbers. “Another safety training programme will be held for employees engaged in sewage contract work and this will be completed within a month,” the official said. The assistant engineer in-charge of the location has been suspended and the area engineer transferred, he added.