Sewer deaths: DM directed to pay Rs 10L compensation to kin

NEW DELHI: The National Commission for Safai Karamcharis Wednesday directed the district magistrate (west) to give a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the family of each of the five people dead due to asphyxiation while cleaning a septic tank at a housing complex in Moti Nagar area in Delhi, officials said. The incident happened at DLF Capital Green Apartments.

The commission has sought registration of a case of death caused by negligence under provisions of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act 2013 and under sections of IPC against DLF, service managing firm JLL, and the maintenance contractor Unnati Agency.

A team of the commission visited the spot on Monday and had a discussion with the Delhi chief secretary, the dis- trict magistrate (west), DCP and other police officers, officers from Municipal Corporation (west) and Delhi Jal Board.

DLF representatives informed the visiting commission team that the JLL will take care of the families affected.

DCP (west) said an FIR was registered under section 304A and the process is on to identify people responsible for the deaths.

"On basis of discussion, the commission has noticed that the cleaning of sewage treatment plant of the DLF Capital Greens was taken up without safety equipment, supervisory team, ambulance with doctor etc, which shows a clear violation of the provision of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act 2013 and also the Supreme Court judgment dated March 27, 2014," the statement said.