The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) has claimed on Tuesday that it always had the required safety equipment for the workers but these were not being used regularly.
The Board MD, M. Dana Kishore, said the workers were not using them and directed senior officials to ensure that the workers make it a regular habit of using safety equipment to avoid any untoward incidents.
Referring to the ghastly incident at Madhapur, he accused the contractor concerned of being negligent in not taking the necessary precautionary measures.
Series of measuresThe MD has announced a series of measures to avoid such tragic incidents and instructed the Director (Operations), G. Rameshwar Rao, to identify the localities from where the labourers are usually hired for sewerage works and training be given to them by the Water Board personnel in dealing with sewerage works.
The contractors should also be sensitized about precautionary steps to be taken while dealing with sewerage works. The Board on its part will be soon introducing small airtech machines for clearing sewer overflows in small lanes. Silt grabbers are also being procured to remove silt from manholes without the need for a worker to get in. Mr. Kishore held a sensitizing training programme for sewerage workers on using of safety equipment and the need for taking safety measures in dealing with sewerage problems.
Insurance coverThe Board is contemplating to provide life Insurance Coverage for Rs.10 lakh in the event of any untoward incident happening to sewerage workers, he added. Earlier the gathering observed two- minutes silence in remembrance of the deceased in Madhapur drainage mishap.
