In the wake of recent deaths caused due to people falling in trenches dug at construction sites, the civic body is set to come up with new guidelines in a safety manual.
In the wake of recent deaths caused due to people falling in trenches dug at construction sites, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is set to come up with new guidelines in a safety manual, to ensure that contractors give top priority to people’s safety.
The issue was raised in the BMC house meeting on Monday by Congress corporator Vinod Shekhar. “There have been numerous accidents because of irresponsible behaviour of BMC officers and contractors. There are no safety precautions taken at project sites. No information is displayed. In spite of several accidents, the irresponsible behaviour of the administration continues,” said Shekhar.
Additional municipal commissioner Aseem Gupta informed the house that following various complaints from a number of corporators, the BMC will come up with a new safety manual. “A detailed study of what should be included, what is missing from the current norms, what is required will be undertaken. Depending on that, the new safety manual will be prepared and will be included in the general contract with the contractors,” said Gupta.
He also added that in any such accidents the criminal liability lies with the contractor. “The administration follows all the pre-existing norms strictly. Any such liability lies completely with the contractor,” he said.
The BMC will also issue a special circular by which it will make mandatory for all the Central agencies, like Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), to inform the local corporator, local ward committee chairman and the ward officer about the ongoing project work. The issue was raised by corporators, when they alleged that such authorities do not give prior information of their construction work, which lead to the discontent among citizens.
In February, a citizen filed a complaint of negligence against the BMC at the Versova police station, after he fell in to an open manhole and sustained injuries. Earlier in January, a 60-year-old lady lost her life after she fell into a trench in Wadala. In another case, an eleven year old died after falling in a 30-feet-deep manhole at Mariamma Nagar in Worli in 2010.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}