SOP For High-Risk Sewer Cleaning Issued By UP Govt, Says Manual Cleaning Should Be Avoided

Lucknow, December 22 (TNA) All local authorities and water resources departments have been directed to ensure that manual cleaning of high-risk sewers and septic tanks is avoided. It is important to ensure that machines are used for cleaning work.

To prevent deaths while cleaning sewers and septic tanks, the Urban Development Ministry has issued a Standard of Operating Procedure (SOP). All local authorities and water resources departments have been directed to ensure that manual cleaning of high-risk sewers and septic tanks is avoided. It is important to ensure that machines are used for cleaning work.

The urban development department’s order said that sanitation workers should be trained from time to time so that their lives are less at risk. The ministry said that the Supreme Court’s orders of October 20 in this regard must also be followed.

After receiving the order from the Urban Development Department, the Municipal Directorate has asked all city authorities to fully implement the SOPs issued in the past and currently. The director of local government, Dr. Nitin Bansal, said that carrying out unsafe cleaning work is a criminal offence. Penetration into the sewerage system without appropriate safety measures should be prohibited.

He said that where work is taking place, all safety precautions, including first aid and oxygen, should be taken so that employees can be rescued in an emergency. It is imperative that the employees involved in sewer cleaning are trained and have a valid I-ID. Sewer cleaning work should be carried out at a time when there is the least amount of wastewater in the sewer.