Chennai Metrowater suspends non-emergency sewage-related work

CHENNAI: A day after a 32-year-old manual

scavenger

died of asphyxiation during sewer pipeline work in a manhole at

Mogappair

here,

Metrowater

on Thursday decided to suspend all non-emergency sewage-related works by its contractors for a week.

Metrowater asked its supervising engineers to resume work only after ensuring availability of safety gear for the workers.

After serving termination notice to the contractor attached to the incident on Wednesday, Metrowater convened a meeting of other contractors to brief them on penal provisions related to safety in the contract agreement.

Further, Metrowater has suspended an assistant engineer who was in charge of the work taken on the Maraimalaiadigal Salai in Mogappair East on Wednesday. It has transferred the area engineer.

Metrowater will conduct a one-month safety training programme at its training centre.