Orissa High Court slams CMC over manual drain cleaning, seeks mechanisation plan by July 31

The Orissa High Court has strongly criticised the continued practice of manual drain cleaning in Cuttack, directing the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) to immediately shift to mechanised methods and submit a comprehensive action plan by July 31.

The court’s intervention follows disturbing reports and social media outcry over the ‘inhumane’ working conditions faced by sanitation workers in the city, which was also reported by OTV earlier this month.

Court Flags Unsafe, Inhuman Practices

A division bench comprising Justices SK Sahoo and V Narasingh, while hearing a batch of PILs on civic infrastructure in Cuttack, expressed concern over the use of labourers, shockingly including minors, to manually clear silt and waste from large stormwater drains without any protective equipment.

The bench observed that workers were being exposed to dangerous environments, including toxic fumes, sharp debris like broken glass and metal spikes, and even poisonous snakes, with no oversight from CMC officials.

The court termed the practice as inhuman and potentially lethal, urging the corporation to replace manual labour with technologically advanced cleaning machines.

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CMC Asked to Prepare Roadmap for Mechanisation

The High Court has also instructed the civic body to prepare a detailed plan for transitioning to mechanised cleaning, including procurement of equipment, training of manpower, and timelines for full implementation.

The action plan is to be presented during the next hearing on July 7. Additionally, the court has warned against the use of child labour, directing the CMC to ensure strict compliance with the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act.

The judicial reprimand comes weeks after CMC posted images on social media showing sanitation workers manually cleaning drains in narrow lanes, triggering a wave of criticism. In the images, workers were seen handling sludge with their bare hands, lacking even the most basic safety gear.