Kochi: Consider this, over 10 employees deployed at the garage of the KSRTC depot at Ernakulam have gone on long leave over the past one month on the grounds that they have been detected with dengue fever, resulting in a serious manpower crisis.
The nearly 35-odd staff at the maintenance department has now come out with the demand that the authorities take strict measures to prevent flow of drainage water into the garage premises.
“The wastes include that leaked from the drainage pipe of the public toilet complex located at the entrance of the garage. The employees are forced to work under inhuman conditions which is resulting in the diseases,” said an employee on the condition of anonymity.
The issue assumed serious dimensions and the staff complained of the working conditions to the KSRTC MD Antony Chacko during his recent visit there. The latter even allotted Rs 60,000 for carrying out sanitary activities on a war-footing.
When contacted, District Transport Officer Jacob Mathew said the issue was blown out of proportion.
“There are only three to four genuine cases of staff affected with Dengue fever. The rest are yet to submit a medical report. We have already written to the Kochi Corporation of the problem. Actions like centralized fogging, destruction of bushes and use of bleaching powder at possible mosquito breeding spots have been done,” he said.
The official admitted that the drainage water flows into the garage from the surrounding area since it is a low-lying spot. “We are filling all the pits and potholes using building material wastes,” he said.
