KOZHIKODE: The tragic death of three persons in the drainage at Palayam on Thursday has brought to the fore the lack of safety measures for the cleaning employees.
According to sources, the underground drainage where the mishap occurred has not been cleaned for four years.
“The contract for clearing the clogged drainage was awarded in 2011 but to no avail. The Chennai-based Shriram EPC Private Limited has been delaying the work,” said a source in the corporation.
According to fire service personnel at Kozhikode beach fire station, entering the drain without oxygen masks is too risky as the drain is big with water up to six feet height.
“The waste will probably contain plastic which causes toxic vapour inside the drain. This could be disastrous,” said Joy, a fire service officer.
According to Mayor, V.K.C. Mammad Koya, the practice of contract companies sub-contracting the work to make quick bucks caused the accident. “They are making money by using poor labourers for a meagre pay,” he alleged.
The corporation can cancel the contract awarded to the company. Sources said that poor labourers would be ready to get into any filthy drain after a booze.
“They forget the safety aspect by the kick of liquor. The payment too is just peanuts,” lamented an eyewitness at the accident spot on Thursday.
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