The death of yet another minor boy falling into an open manhole in the city has raised question about how irresponsible and incapable the two city corporations and other utility providers are and recklessly failing to protect valuable life from open death traps scattering all over the city. He fell into the sewerage line, as its mouth was lying open when playing with friends in an open ground in the city’s Shyampur area on Tuesday afternoon. Fire Brigade recovered the body after four hours from river Buriganga where the sewerage lines ended.
The way manholes and WASA pipes remain open and unprotected in the city is invariably a big crime and matter of worries as they are endangering people’s life unnoticed. There is no doubt that the people responsible to protect and maintain those manholes and drainage pipes can be charged with murder and they must be charged for deaths in manholes. Reports said another boy similarly fell into the same manhole about six months ago and his body was recovered one day later from Buriganga river. Yet another boy fell into a big mouth WASA pipe in December last year at Shahjahanpur Railway Colony. And nothing happened and nobody was taken to task.
In our judgement WASA is certainly to be blamed but the City Corporations should also justify their existence with Ward Commissioners in different areas when our children die in city drains. Not knowing what are the responsibilities of the City Corporations cannot be a justification.
Such incidents of death are clear evidence, whether it is WASA or City Corporation, to show that the lives of ordinary people have no value or importance.
It is not acceptable to us that we have two City Corporations for Dhaka city only for removing garbage from streets. It is the responsibility of the City Corporations to look after the well-being of the city and the facilities to be available for safe and secure lives of the city dwellers. If WASA fail to do what it must do, the City Corporations as the peoples’ representative have to ensure that WASA cannot evade its duty to the people. Such responsibility of the City Corporations is applicable in respect of all government departments and agencies for their negligence of duty. The City Corporations may not be successful in all cases but they must expose their failures.
It sounds strange as WASA officials say they have fund shortage to replace the cover of the manholes and blamed drug addicts for stealing the cover at night. This cannot be a defence for the failure of WASA or the City Corporations not to ensure safety of the people. If drug addicts find it easy to steal the manhole covers then why it should be difficult for others and WASA men also. The fact is that hardly anybody feels any need of justifying the money and benefits he or she receives from national exchequer. They forget that they are public servants.
We hold the view that the people of the City Corporation to be primarily held accountable. We know they are not elected by the people and as such they do not take their responsibility seriously. WASA is certainly to be blamed. But the City Corporations’ people cannot remain unconcerned for their failures.
No investigation is necessary, we all know who are guilty.
