Citing the preliminary reports, a senior official from Delhi Jal Board reported that all the required safety equipments were provided to the team who were sent to repair and rehabilitate the sewer tank at G-Block Jahangir Puri. The official denied that the 32-year-old Dooman Ray died due to negligence of the Board. However, the official added that a committee of chief engineers has been constituted to look into the matter.
On Sunday, a 32-year-old man reportedly drowned in a sewer tank after the victim and three others were tasked with repairing and rehabilitation of the Delhi Jal Board Pump House Sewerage.
According to Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northwest) AK Lall the 32-year-old Dooman Ray drowned when he went down the sewage tank and opened the valve.
Delhi Jal Board stated that they had awarded the work of repair and rehabilitation of the sewer to a private firm and the private firm employee Dooman Ray was equipped with good quality safety-gears and oxygen cylinder. The cause of his death is reported to be mishandling of valve during repair and rehabilitation of sewer and not “Manual Scavenging”, they said.
The Board also claimed that as per the guidelines of Supreme Court DJB provides training to all the ground level functionaries where major focus lies on functionality and proper usage of safety gears.
According to official, the deceased did not follow the protocol of opening the door of the valve. The official also alleged that the Delhi Jal Board had provided the required equipments to the private company KK Spun India Limited that was given the contract to repair and rehabilitate the sewer.
“A case under Sections 304A of the Indian Penal Code, including Sections 7 and 9 of the Prohibition of Employment as manual scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act have been registered in Jahangir Puri police station,” Additional DCP stated, however, no arrest has been made so far.