The civic administration had spent over Rs two lakh in purchasing 50 US safety make half mask made of silicon rubber, a gas monitor and nearly 30 safety helmets. All 12 divisional ward offices had been provided with three sets of masks and helmets to enable the bigari (labourer) for ``safe'' cleaning up of sewers.

The death of two health department workers, Natha Kamble and Adinath Hawale, in November last year had led to angry reactions on lack of safety precautions. They had lost their lives while cleaning the choked sewer at the densely populated Juna Bazaar slums in Mangalwar Peth. Officials had then stated that the workers died of suffocation after inhaling the methane gas.

The civic body, which had never provided masks to the sewage staff, took a major decision of purchasing the safety equipment for the workers. Only to their surprise, the masks lie unutilised ``as the workers seem least bothered.''

When contacted, R T Shelkande, deputy city engineer said: ``We tried our level best to persuade the bigaris to use these gas masks, but to no avail.'' In fact, reports from the junior engineers and divisional ward officers also point out the futility of such a measure. While the PMC does not train the workers who clean the drains, they are, however, instructed not to enter the chamber for half-an-hour after lifting the manhole cover.

There are around 300-350 workers at the drainage department. Nearly 100 bigaris are actually involved in the cleaning up of sewers. Guidelines had also been issued regarding the safety precautions to be taken while special arrangements had been subsequently made for enrolling the workers for a medical check-up at Kamala Nehru Hospital. Barely a handful turned up for themedical check-up, Shelkande lamented.

Officials likened the reluctance on the part of workers to use gas masks to that of the commuter not wearing the helmet. ``We know the helmet will save our lives and yet do not wear it. Similarly the workers are so used to the manner in which they clean up the chambers, that they could not be bothered about new safety measures!''