The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Criminal neglect: Mask the sewermen now
A majority of sewermen work under the shadow of death. In the absence of oxygen cylinders, gum boots and torches, they are forced to work in inhuman conditions
Umesh Dewan
Tribune News Service

Death traps

Open manholes in Karanpur, Rajpur Road and Chakrata Road can turn into death traps, especially during the monsoon. Residents say every other day there are incidents of two-wheelers getting stuck in these manholes. “The authorities are aware of the danger and yet have not bothered to provide lids for the manholes,” says Sikander who runs a bakery on Tilak Road.

Dehradun, June 21
The death of sewerman Ashish near Ashley Hall has once again brought to light the plight of sewermen. Ashish was asphyxiated while cleaning a choked sewer with neither a mask nor an oxygen cylinder.

This has not been the only instance of its kind. Every year, several such incidents are reported and the main reason is invariably is “lack of equipment”.

During the past few years, at least six sewermen have lost their lives. All were ill-equipped for the job at hand.

A majority of sewermen maintain that they constantly work under the shadow of death. There are at least 24 sewermen with the Jal Sansthan and all lead a risky life. In the absence of oxygen cylinders gum boots, torches and uniform, these sewermen are forced to work in “inhuman” conditions.

Without any safety kit, they enter several feet deep manholes, full of toxic gases. On a number of occasions, sewermen have been choked to death. Apart from sewermen, the Jal Sansthan has hired private contractors for the job. “Toxic gases like sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide and hydrogen peroxide inside manholes are extremely dangerous”. The workers are neither provided training for cleaning manholes, nor is any safety kit given to them. There is only one machine for cleaning sewers in Dehradun.

“At times, sewermen have to undergo treatment for itching caused by exposure to highly toxic gases and litter,” says councillor Arun Valmiki. “Asking sewermen to clean the sewerage without proper masks, shoes and oxygen cylinders is tantamount to asking them to commit suicide,” he says.

“What is shocking is that the Jal Sansthan has not cared to purchase any safety kit. Likewise, private contractors do not provide masks to the staff,” he says, while demanding that the authorities must ensure that sewermen are given proper kit.

Expressing dismay over the “lackadaisical attitude” of the authorities, state general secretary of the Uttarakhand Valmiki Krantikari Morcha Vipin Chanchal says it is unfortunate that despite repeated requests, no heed has been paid to providing safety kits to sewermen.

Senior Congress leader Suryakant Dhasmana says he will take up the matter with the state government and the Human Rights Commission. “If required, we will file a PIL in the Nainital High Court,” he says. When contacted, chief general manager, Jal Sansthan, Harshpati Uniyal, said XEN VK Sethi was the right person to comment on the issue. However, Sethi evaded comment, saying senior officials should be approached on the matter. It is alarming that water pipelines in several areas pass through the city sewerage.

Residents say there was real danger of leaking sewerage pipelines contaminating drinking water and subsequently the outbreak of gastro diseases.

At Lunia Mohalla, Manuganj, Dharampur, Khurbura Mohalla and Dandipur drinking water pipes are seen laid alongside sewers. This is ominous as a survey by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) under the Uttarakhand Urban Development Project last year had revealed that 80 per cent of the water pipes needed to be replaced.

Vision unblighted
Though visually impaired, Amarjeet Singh, an LIC
professional from Mumbai, is part of a jatha to Kailash Mansarovar
BD Kasniyal

Pitthoragarh, June 21
Amarjeet Singh Chawla is visually impaired. But this has not deterred him from undertaking the arduous Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Chawla’s dream to visit the abode of Lord Shiva in the Himalayas came true when his friend and colleague HDN Postwala, a Parsi, decided to accompany him for the pilgrimage.

Amarjeet Singh, an LIC professional from Mumbai, is part of a 39-member jatha of Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims who passed through Pitthoragarh on way to the base camp at Dharchula on Saturday.

“I am a keen trekker and have been on several expeditions with my friend Postwala including one to the Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib. For me,
“Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is also a trekking expedition. I pray that Lord Shiva will grace me with the power to achieve my goal,” he said. Amarjet Singh took part in the Mumbai marathon last year. “Amarjeet is in high sprits and sometimes other pilgrims take inspiration from him,” said Sanjay Rana, liaison officer, for the jatha.

“My friend is a Parsi. I am a Sikh. We both are going for the darshan of Lord Shiva as god is one,”said Amarjeet Singh.

A viusually impaired engineer from TATA Telcom had scaled Om Parvat in Pitthoragarh district in 2007. “This engineer reached there without a pony or porter, carrying his luggage on his back,” recalled DK Sharma, tourist officer, Kumoan Mandak Vikas Nigam.

— The writer is a freelance scribe

Watts the matter
Soon, energy-efficient LED lights at Kumbh Mela
Jotirmay Thapliyal
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 21
After the Delhi-Noida highway, energy-efficient light-emitting diode-based streetlights may be put up at Kumbh Mela area in Haridwar.

The Uttarakhand Renewable Energy Development Agency(UREDA) has placed a Rs 4.5 crore proposal before the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, New Delhi, for the same.

“Kumbh Mela attracts lakhs from across the country and abroad and by installing the LED streetlights, we will be able to send the right message across to the people,” said CP Aggarwal, deputy chief project officer UREDA (solar). He pointed out that these lights were more energy-efficient than CFL bulbs.

Around 650 LED lights could be installed for the Kumbh Mela in Haridwarin 2010. The agency,-in association with the Dehradun Municipal Corporation has already started installing LED lights in the city, 80 so far.While a normal streetlight consumes 250 watts of power, LED lights consume as low as 70 watts and emits white light. LED lights are also being installed at Lal Bahadur Shastri Academy of Administration in Mussoorie that trains IAS probationers.

Aggarwal said as part of demonstration, LED lights have been provided to 85 families in Dongi village in Agora, Rudraprayag.

‘Hariyali Abhiyan’ from July 1
Jotirmay Thapliyal
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 21
After a successful garbage cleanliness campaign on World Environment Day, Uttarakhand Forest Department is all set to launch a statewide “Hariyali Abhiyan” from July 1 to August 31.

The campaign will entail planting of thousands of tree sapling all across the state. Uttarakhand Principal Chief Conservation of Forest Dr RBS Rawat said the campaign was one of its kinds, and participation of voluntary organisations and people would be ensured.

Referring to the cleanliness campaign held on June 6, Uttarakhand PCCF said as much as 1,000 quintals of garbage and polythene was collected on the day, which would fetch an Rs 6-7 lakh in the market.

He informed that the department now plans to utilise this fund for the betterment of its sanitary workers.

On forest fires, he said any mitigation effort could only succeed with the efforts of villagers.

He favoured identifying voluntary organisations that could be held responsible for at least one district as part of forest fire mitigation efforts.

Rawat said for the next six months, he would be extensively touring each and every district of the state to take up forest-linked issues of the people.

He said Forest Department was seeking the services of Forest Research Institute scholars in order to assess the performance of officers.

“We will be putting forward a questionnaire before people, which will include queries about forest fires, remedies and the role of forest officers and van panchayats in dealing with such fires,” he said.