Despite sewer deaths, no action from Delhi

Lives of hundreds of workers who go down to clean sewers and tanks manually at risk

The AAP government’s promise to put an end to manual scavenging by mechanising the process, after 10 people were killed cleaning sewers and tanks last year in the capital, remains unfulfilled.

No machines to clean sewers have been purchased by the government despite promises, and also a recommendation by a government committee, after the 10 deaths from July 15 to August 20, 2017, the Public Relations Department of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), which looks after procurement of machines, told journalists.

The non-availability of machines puts the lives of hundreds of workers, who go down to clean sewers and tanks manually, in danger.

On August 21, 2017, after the 10th person died, protests forced the Delhi government to impose a blanket ban on manual scavenging in the city and promise to buy machines to clean sewers.

“At any cost, no one should go inside sewers. You will have to use the machines you have. Whichever is not available and are needed, we will buy them,” then Delhi Water Minister Rajendra Pal Gautam had said.

‘Tendering stage’

Though a committee was formed to look into mechanisation and a decision was taken to purchase 150-200 small machines to clean sewers and tanks in narrow lanes, the plan has not materialised.

When asked about the delay, Gautam, who is currently Social Welfare Minister, said: “Our officers went to Hyderabad and later I went to Pune to see the machines and then we had trial of a machine here. Now, we have decided to buy 200 machines and it has reached tendering stage.”