No humans in manholes: On June 23, the Madras High Court asked the state to nominate members to a committee to oversee implementation of the court order banning human entry into sewer lines and septic tanks. The committee would comprise members from the water supply and sewerage board and Chennai Corporation.
The court also asked the government to invite voluntary and technical organizations to join the committee. The order was passed after the special government pleader admitted in court that the state has not appointed inspectors and officers to take action against violators (mainly government organizations and contractors engaged in sanitation work).
In 2008, the court had imposed the ban on workers entering sewer manholes saying it violated Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act. The petitioner filed a contempt petition on the order's non-compliance.
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