Hyderabad: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has decided to launch an inquiry after four of its workers were found clearing silt manually inside a stormwater drain on Lakdikapul main road.
On Friday, the four workers were spotted cleaning the catchpits of stormwater drains without the use of proper equipment, such as a bucket cleaning machine recommended for clearing silt.
It raised concerns about the safety of the workers, as manual scavenging poses significant risks.
“The workers were cleaning a stormwater drain and not a sewer line. However, we are launching an inquiry, led by senior officials, to thoroughly examine the issue and determine the factors that led to the incident,” GHMC zonal commissioner (Khairatabad) Anurag Jayanti said.
The incident came to light when a citizen, Harish Daga, posted about it on ‘X’. In his post, Daga pointed out that despite the govt’s ban on the use of human labour for direct cleaning of sewers, ditches, pits, and septic tanks, GHMC continues to engage workers in manual scavenging at Lakdikapul. He urged the authorities to put an immediate end to this practice. “The decision to launch an inquiry into the incident at Lakdikapul is a right step. It is crucial that the authorities take swift action to ensure that such practices are eradicated and that the safety and dignity of workers are upheld. It is important to raise awareness about the dangers of manual scavenging,” Harish Daga added.
The practice of manual scavenging has been banned in India since 2013 under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 (MS Act, 2013). The act states that no person or agency could engage or employ any person for manual scavenging.
Despite this, the practice continues to persist in various parts of the country, often due to lack of awareness, proper infrastructure, and enforcement of the law. The gravity of the situation could be highlighted by the fact that between 2019 and 2023, 377 persons lost their lives across the country while cleaning sewers and septic tanks manually.
