NHRC notice to Delhi govt, police commissioner over death of labourers while cleaning sceptic tank

The NHRC has issued a notice to the Delhi government and city police commissioner over the death of two labourers while cleaning a septic tank at an under-construction house here.

On Tuesday, two contractual workers died and three others were hospitalised after apparently inhaling toxic gas when they were cleaning the septic tank in northwest Delhi's Rohini area.

Due to negligence by authorities, a large number of people are dying every year in such painful incidents, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said in a statement issued Thursday.

The rights panel said it has taken "suo motu cognisance of media reports that two labourers, died while three others are battling for life after they entered an unauthorised 10-foot-deep septic tank at an under-construction house in Prem Nagar, Rohini, Delhi, on May 7".

In spite of specific laws and guidelines, such incidents are happening, the commission said.

The NHRC said it has condemned as "uncivilised" the attitude of some people who gathered at the place of incident, but did not come forward to help the victims, terming them "untouchables".

The commission has issued notices to the Delhi chief secretary and police commissioner, seeking a detailed report within six weeks.

It has also asked the Delhi government to inform whether it had issued any guidelines prohibiting unauthorised construction and cleaning of septic tanks, and, if so, why its strict compliance is not being ensured.

The NHRC said, "It has directed the Delhi government to chalk out appropriate instructions to deal with the issue and inform."