Man who died inside DJB sewage pumping station tank not provided safety gear: Ministry

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment said Monday the man who died working inside a DJB sewage pumping station tank in northwest Delhi was not provided the prescribed safety gear.

It said only mask and safety belt were provided to Dooman Ray, a 32-year-old native of Katihar in Bihar, who died inside the DJB tank in Jahangirpuri on October 21.

The prescribed manpower, including doctor with ambulance, and safety gears were not provided at the time of accident, which show a clear violation of provision of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act 2013, the ministry said in a statement.

It said not providing the adequate safety gear also violated a Supreme Court order dated February 27.

The National Human Rights Commission on October 22 sent notices to the Centre and the Delhi government over Ray's death. On Monday, the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK) sought a report from the Delhi government, the police and other authorities on Ray's death.

On October 24, police said they have arrested three men, including the project manager and safety officer, for alleged negligence in connection with Ray's death. The three men have been sent to judicial custody.

Police said they will question senior officers of Spun India Ltd, the contactor firm hired by DJB.

An NCSK team, accompanied by district magistrate, north zone, additional deputy commissioner of police, SDM of Jahangirpuri, officials from Delhi Jal Board recently visited the site of the accident.

The chief executive officer there told them that repair and rehabilitation work was being carried out by the contactor firm when the accident happened, the ministry stated.

Manual scavenging is prohibited under the 2013 Act. The government has said it aims to completely eradicate manual scavenging in its various manifestations.

In September, five men died after inhaling toxic fumes while working in a sewage treatment plant in west Delhi's Moti Nagar area.

NCSK has asked the district magistrate, north district, to release a payment of Rs 10 lakh as compensation to Ray's family.