This swachhta ‘STINKS’

Even as the civic body is going all out to make Jaipur top the Swachh Survekshan Survey rankings, it has forgotten one basic need: To introduce sewer jetting machines for risky jobs or give adequate safety gear to workers who do the dirty job of cleaning the city’s sewerage pipes.

This apathetic attitude has already taken a toll when two private company workers died on Saturday while cleaning the sewage chamber at Kukarkheda Anaaj Mandi.

They were forced to enter the chamber without proper equipment as their private contractor didn’t set aside funds to ensure the safety of its workers.

This incident is a lesson for the state capital. If any step to provide adequate safety equipment is not taken, we could witness more such casualties in the near future.

There is no rule regarding the safety provision for private labourers who undertake a risky job like cleaning of sewer line. These workers have no option but to undertake these jobs in order to make a livelihood.

The civic body does the maintenance work of the city’s sewer lines but mostly hands these jobs to private contractors. It hasn’t fixed any rules that would ensure safety while undertaking these life-threatening jobs. Under the rules …read more