Sambalpur: Sanitation Workers Clean Drains Without Proper Equipment in Sambalpur, Lack Basic Tools

Workers Forced to Use Bare Hands

Sambalpur: In Sambalpur, sanitation workers are being sent to clean drains without essential tools like rakes, gloves, and helmets. The private contractor organization, Pratyush, assigned by the Sambalpur Municipal Corporation (SMC), has failed to provide the necessary equipment. Consequently, workers are forced to remove waste from drains using their bare hands. This situation violates their basic rights and exposes them to health risks.

Tools Needed for Efficient Cleaning

Essential tools such as brooms, rakes, cutting machines, gloves, helmets, and bleaching powder are necessary for effective sanitation. However, many workers rely only on rakes and lack other critical equipment. In some areas, drains have not been cleaned for months, leading to water overflowing onto streets.

Shortage of Workers Adds to Challenges

There is a significant shortage of sanitation workers in the city. Although 1,264 workers are required to maintain cleanliness across 23 wards, only 678 are currently employed. Some wards have only 12 to 16 workers instead of the necessary 26, further hampering cleaning efforts.

Residents Face Consequences

Due to inadequate cleaning, drains remain clogged, causing inconvenience to residents. Complaints raised during ward-level meetings have highlighted these issues, but SMC has not yet taken effective steps to resolve them. The lack of proper cleaning is threatening the city’s cleanliness and the success of drainage master plans.

Contractor Defends Actions

The private organization Pratyush, responsible for sanitation in 23 wards, claims it is providing all necessary tools like rakes, gloves, and helmets. They also claim to share photos with geo-tagging as proof with the SMC commissioner. However, some equipment reportedly goes missing or is used for private work by the workers.

SMC Promises Action

The SMC Deputy Commissioner stated that Pratyush has been working for a year and will continue for another year. Management assured that they would provide all required tools and investigate complaints about missing equipment. They expect to share clear updates in the coming days.

To ensure effective sanitation, the authorities must address these issues urgently. Providing proper equipment and increasing the workforce are essential to maintain cleanliness and meet residents’ expectations. Regular monitoring and transparency in operations will be crucial for improving sanitation services in Sambalpur.