CHENNAI: We talk about ‘smart city’, but still send people in without any protective gear to cleam out drains and sewers. After TOI asked Greater Chennai Corporation why it had sent the man in the photograph into a stormwater drain, the civic body said it has lodged a police complaint against the contractor who didn’t provide safety gear to workers desilting drains in T Nagar on Wednesday.
Ten workers with no gloves, rubber boots or masks entered the seven-foot-deep stormwater drain pits to clear blockages. A corporation official said the contractor had been told to follow safety precautions, but he did not comply with the norms. “We filed a police complaint for violation of rules. Machines must be used wherever possible,” said an official.
Samuel D of Safai Karamchari Andolan said that their organization had met with all district officials and had petitioned the officials to ensure workers were provided with safety gears. Greater Chennai corporation commissioner Gagandeep Singh Bedi said strict orders had been issued to all contractors, zonal officials and engineers to ensure safety gear is provided to workers.
