Manholes cleared without safety gear

KOZHIKODE: The tragic death of three persons in the drainage at Palayam on Thursday has brought to the fore the  lack of safety measures for the cleaning employees.    

According to sources, the underground drainage where the mishap occurred has  not been cleaned for  four years.

“The contract for clearing the clogged drainage was awarded  in 2011 but to no avail. The Chennai-based Shriram EPC Private Limited has been delaying the work,” said a  source in the corporation.

According to fire service personnel at Kozhikode beach fire station, entering  the drain without oxygen masks is too risky  as the drain is  big with water up to  six feet height.

“The waste will probably contain plastic  which causes toxic vapour inside the drain. This could be disastrous,” said Joy, a fire service officer.

According to  Mayor, V.K.C. Mammad Koya, the practice of contract companies  sub-contracting  the work to make quick bucks  caused  the accident. “They are making money by using poor labourers for a meagre pay,” he alleged.

The corporation can  cancel the contract awarded to the company. Sources said that poor labourers  would be ready to get into any filthy drain after a  booze.

“They forget the safety aspect by the kick of liquor. The payment too is just peanuts,” lamented an eyewitness at the accident  spot on Thursday.

 

 

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