DJB claims no role in South Delhi sewer deaths

New Delhi: The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has once again reiterated that it had not authorised any work in a sewer line in South Delhi leading to the death of three men who were cleaning it. The DJB was asked to submit a report on the case by Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and has conveyed the same in writing. He said that the arrest of the contractor might help unravel the case.

It has been five days since the incident, but there has been no headway in the investigation ordered into the death of three men while the private contractor, the prime suspect, is still absconding. On Tuesday, Kejriwal had directed the DJB chief executive officer to conduct an “impartial inquiry” into the incident and demanded that an interim report be submitted to the government within 48 hours.

In its report, the DJB has again said that it had not authorised any work in the Lajpat Nagar area where the incident took place on August 6. “The private contractor, who had allegedly deployed these workers to clean 20 sewers, holds the key. The fact that he is evading the police deepens suspicion. But it is not clear as to who wanted the sewers cleaned. It may have been the market association, but nothing can be said with any authority at this point,” the official said.

Even the jetting machine, used to mechanically sweep sewers, that was parked near the spot of the incident belonged to some other division, an official, who didn’t wish to be identified, said. It may be noted jetting machines that are operated by private contractors are usually registered with the DJB.

The Lajpat Nagar incident follows the death of four men who died while cleaning a tank containing poisonous sewage in south Delhi's Ghitorni. In both cases, the deceased were working for private contractors.