Chandigarh, Jul 29 (PTI) Taking a serious stance over accidents and alleged lapses in safety compliance during sewerage works, Haryana minister Ranbir Gangwa has ordered strict enforcement of sewer and manhole safety norms across the state.
The Haryana public works minister directed departmental officers to ensure that all prescribed safety protocols are followed meticulously, according to an official statement issued here Wednesday.
The minister asserted that any lapse in adherence to safety protocols will not be tolerated.
He said if the life of any employee is lost due to negligence in implementing mandatory safety measures, responsibility will be fixed on the officers concerned and strict action will be taken against them.
Gangwa also directed
that seven monitoring committees be constituted across Haryana — each comprising a chief engineer, the superintending engineer of the concerned circle and the executive engineer of the respective division — to conduct regular field inspections, and verify compliance with safety arrangements and prescribed protocols.
The committees will submit inspection reports directly to the department headquarters, which will be placed before the minister without delay, the statement said.
To ensure that inspections remain impartial and effective, the minister directed chief engineers be assigned circles other than those falling under their present administrative jurisdiction.
Gangwa said there is an urgent need to strengthen departmental monitoring and accountability so that no lapses occur in supervision in future.
He reiterated that the safety of every employee is the government’s foremost priority and no compromise with safety standards will be accepted.
The minister directed officers that no employee should be permitted to enter any sewer or manhole unless all prescribed safety equipment is made available and every mandatory safety protocol is fully complied with.
Referring to the meeting of the Haryana Water Supply and Sewerage Board (WSSB) held June 23, the minister said Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini had also issued clear directions to the department to ensure complete compliance with prescribed safety standards in every sewerage and manhole-related operation.
Gangwa said several incidents have come to light in which negligence on part of contractors as well as departmental officers have been observed.
He further said reports of accidents caused by uncovered sewer manholes has reached him.
Asserting that it is the department’s responsibility to ensure that manholes are covered and secure, he directed all officers to ensure that no manhole or sewer opening remains uncovered, and regular monitoring is carried out to prevent such hazards.
The minister also expressed displeasure over the fact that, in several cases, departmental officers failed to submit preliminary reports, fact-finding reports, action taken reports and related files to the state headquarters promptly after an accident. He said such negligence would not be tolerated in future.
The minister directed that information regarding every such incident, along with all prescribed reports, be sent to the headquarters immediately, and said it would be the responsibility of the officers concerned to ensure timely submission.
Gangwa has also directed deputy commissioners to regularly review compliance with safety standards in sewerage and manhole-related works during their monthly review meetings. PTI SUN ARB ARB
