Must clear out, fix sites as soon as work is done

The heavy gate kept leaning against the wall near the entrance of Papadi pond in Vasai. Pic/Hanif Patel

An iron gate, removed from its hinges near a wall close to a pond in Vasai and left leaning against the dilapidated boundary wall, fell on a five-year-old tribal girl, crushing her to death recently. The six-year-old cousin of the deceased who was playing with her at the time had a narrow escape.

The pond, maintained by the Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation, sees a crowd of locals who use the pond to wash clothes, and bathe. Children play near the pond, often around the gates which had been removed due to its dilapidated condition or for some work around the site. Though they were removed from the hinges, they had not been stored in a secure place or carted off by the contractor, but left in that space.

A report in this paper about the tragedy had one standout statement, when a person was quoted as saying that the poor die like insects. It was a statement which is powerful in its bitterness and cynicism. It is a pointer to a mindset that has been formed that the underprivileged lives are somehow cheaper than those of the privileged.

This edit space has often highlighted the need for clearing up or ensuring safety on a site while work is on and even after it is completely done.

We have so many instances of debris lying around, hazardous material left unattended once work is over, iron rods which can pierce, boulders etc. at times piled near sites. Children often have access to these places and there is always a danger of serious injury and, like in this case, a death.

Contractors must be warned of stiffest fines in case material is left strewn around. We need compensation and answers for those affected and ensure that repeat incidents are completely ruled out.