The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has initiated a high-level inquiry into the installation of nets on sewage-channel manholes, which has been ongoing since 2024. The inquiry committee has recommended a vigilance investigation targeting the officials involved in this project. This action follows concerns regarding the management and oversight of the installation process.
Mumbai: Nearly three months after the death of Aslam Isak Shaikh, who fell into an open manhole on Khairani Road in Sakinaka on July 2 amid a wet spell, the BMC’s high-level inquiry committee has recommended a vigilance probe into officials involved in the work of installing nets on sewage-channel manholes since 2024. The report also has stated that the Executive Engineer, L ward, had registered a complaint at Sakinaka police station on July 3. The committee has also recommended recording the statement of contractor New Tech Infra to ascertain from whom instructions were received to carry out work on the manhole at the incident site. It has proposed a further investigation be conducted by Chief Engineer (Vigilance) into this aspect. The panel has held the contractor responsible for the incident and recommended that the ongoing process of blacklisting New Tech Infra through L ward Assistant Commissioner be completed. The report states that Dhanaji Herlekar, the then Assistant Commissioner, L ward, was not directly responsible for the incident, though a supervisory error was observed on his part. The incident had triggered public outrage, following which BMC suspended four officials concerned, initiated action against the contractor and ordered a high-level inquiry with a report expected to be submitted in seven days. The concerned Junior Engineer, Sub-Engineer or Assistant Engineer will have to visit ongoing manhole works, verify the safety inspection checklist and take necessary action, besides submitting reports to senior officers. The committee has called for zero tolerance for violations of the SOP and strict action against those concerned. However, despite two communications, information regarding the police investigation or action taken had not been received by BMC. Deputy Commissioner, Zone V, has been asked to follow up with the police.