Noida sewer death: Authority initiates action against contractor, JE for alleged lapses

Noida, July 15 (IANS) Alarmed over the death of a sanitation worker during sewer cleaning in Sector-93 (B), the Noida Authority has initiated action against the Junior Engineer (JE) as well as the contractor. Officials said that steps are being taken to register a criminal case against the contractor and disciplinary action against the officials involved.

The tragic incident took place on July 14, during sewer line cleaning at the T-point near Sector-93B and Gejha village. The deceased worker, identified as Shiva, went inside to clear the sewerage but died due to toxic gases inside.

As the contractor and officials bypassed the stipulated guidelines in sewerage cleaning, the Authority is understood to have terminated the services of the Junior Engineer (JE) and initiated process to blacklist the contractor.

The fatal incident also raises questions over Noida Authority’s claims that sewer cleaning is carried out entirely by deploying machines.

According to a statement by the Authority, cleaning work on a deep sewer line was underway at the T-point near Sector-93B and Gejha village—falling under the jurisdiction of the Water Division-III. A sanitation worker named Shiva descended into the sewer manhole to clear the blockage. It said that the worker was wearing safety belt, oxygen mask, and other safety gear.

According to the Authority, when field staff attempted to pull the victim Shiva out after some time, he became entangled in wires present inside the manhole.

He was subsequently retrieved with the help of local police and the fire service and rushed to the hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

M/s Shivaji Constructions Company is the contractor appointed by the Authority for sewer cleaning.

The Authority said that it has started the process of filing an FIR against the company and also blacklisting it in its records while deciding to terminate the services of the concerned Junior Engineer (on contract) Rakesh Kumar.

Adverse entry is being recorded against the concerned manager, and the Senior Manager is being issued a show-cause notice, it added.

The tragic death of the sanitation worker raises multiple questions about the safety mechanisms in place and puts the Authority in a soup. Over the past few years, numerous sanitation workers have lost their lives while cleaning sewers in Noida and the NCR.

Noida Authority has consistently claimed that sewer cleaning in the city is being carried out using modern machinery; the latest incident casts doubt on the veracity of those claims.

–IANS

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