Safety equipments will be purchased to save the lives of sewer-men :Malik Nadeem Kamran

Lahore: Provincial Minister for Zakat & Usher Malik Nadeem Kamran has said that with the cost of 110.8 million rupees, 14 safety equipments consisting of 42 sets will be purchased to save the lives of sewer-men during cleanliness. He said that lives of sewer men will be ensured during cleanliness in manholes and latest machinery and necessary training is being imparted to them.

He said this while presiding over a high level meeting of Punjab Municipal Development Fund Company at Shadman, today.

Member Provincial Assembly Waheed Gull, Special Secretary Local Government and Community Development Saira Aslam, Chief Engineer South Syed Nasir Abbas, Managing Director PMDFC Aamir Nazir, besides concerned officials were present.

The Minister directed concerned officers to immediately contact all town administration of the province for de-silting of sewers and provide check list of safety equipments. He said that missing equipments should be provided to such TMAs which already have some safety items so that the remaining equipments should be provided to them for completing their sets. He said that complete sets should immediately be provided to such TMAs which do not have safety equipments.

Malik Nadeem Kamran said that cities are expanding due to rapid increase in population whereas the staff is not increasing at the required ratio. He said that TMAs should also provide lists of existing staff and the required staff so that approval could be acquired for this purpose. He directed officers to again review SoPs with regard to the purchase of new equipments. He said that as the lives of sewer men cannot be put in danger, therefore, sucker and jetting machines should be used for de-silting of sewers while the availability and utilization of safety equipments should be ensured during de-silting of manholes.

He said that sewer men should fully use safety equipments for the de-silting of sewer lines. He said that modern training is being imparted to the staff which is deputed for de-silting of sewers and Chief Officer, Town Officers and administrators of the TMAs have also been included in the training programme.