New Delhi, February 11th, 2011

The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, has recommended that the Delhi Government pay monetary relief of rupees fifty thousand to the next of kin of Paramvir who died due to drowning in a pit, while digging near a sewer pipeline which burst and flooded it. The Commission observed that the Delhi Jal Board can not escape its liability to compensate the next of kin of the deceased under the garb of his employment and payment of compensation by the contractor.

The Delhi Jal Board in response to the notices of the Commission had informed that the contractor of the private firm which engaged the labourers for the job has paid Rs. 1,35,000/- as compensation to the father of the deceased. It also said that action is being taken to debar the construction firm.

The Commission observed that the inquiry report submitted by the Delhi Jal Board clearly says that "it appears that neither the firm nor the field staff applied the engineering wisdom while executing the work at site…. The lapse on the part of the firm and the officers of the division stands established in the unfortunate accident where a human life was lost."

The Commission in its proceedings on the 2nd February, 2011, asked the Chief Secretary, Government of NCT Delhi to submit a compliance report alongwith proof of payment within six weeks.

The Commission swung into action on the basis of a media report published on the 27th October, 2009 and brought to its notice by an NGO. The incident happened near metro pillar number 741 at Gulabi Bagh in the area of Nawada in the South-West district of Delhi. Some labourers were working for laying a pipeline of the Delhi Jal Board there. During the digging, the sewer line passing nearby burst as a result of which the pit got flooded with sewer water drowning the three labourers. The fire brigade and police came in time and rescued the two labourers, while the third Paramvir s/o Mr. Komal Singh died in the mishap.

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