SC panel summons employment officer

Our Correspondent

Mandi Ahmedgarh, June 14

The Punjab State SC Commission has taken a serious notice of the alleged negligence of the civic bodies while getting choked drains cleared manually.

The death of a temporary sewerman of Bhudan village, Sukhwinder Singh, while clearing a blocked drain at Malerkotla triggered action by Chandreshwar Singh Cherry Mohi, member of the commission, who summoned the employment officer of the deceased to his office on June 20.

Leaders of Safai Mazdoor Union, Ahmedgarh, led by Sohan Lal Ghoshi have sought the intervention of Safai Mazdoor Welfare Commission, Chandigarh, and Punjab State SC Commission in getting guidelines on safety of sewermen implemented in letter and spirit.

Chandeshwar Singh Cherry Mohi, member, Punjab State SC Commission, said he had taken suo moto cognisance of the incident in which a temporary employee was made to enter a choked sewer hole by authorities at Municipal Council at Malerkotla. The sewerman had died due to inhalation of some poisonous gases in the sewerage. “While we have summoned officials ordering the deceased to enter the sewerage without safety kit, we will also try to sensitise authorities at other civic bodies by sending fresh advisory on the subject soon,” said Cherry Mohi.