Delhi PWD deletes manual scavenging post—ban violation sparks public outrage

The Delhi Public Works Department (PWD) has come under fire after deleting a social media post that showed manual scavengers working waist-deep in sewage during a de-silting operation in Rohini. This incident has sparked public outrage as it directly violates the Supreme Court's January 29, 2025, order banning manual scavenging in all major metropolitan cities, including Delhi.

The Supreme Court had mandated a complete stop to this hazardous practice, emphasizing the deployment of mechanized sewer cleaning methods. However, the PWD's recent posts contradicted this directive, showing workers engaged in manual scavenging despite the ban.

PWD Minister Parvesh Verma had announced on April 7, 2025, plans to introduce advanced sewer cleaning machines across Delhi to tackle chronic waterlogging issues. Yet, the visuals posted on social media revealed that manual labor was still being used for de-silting on Road Number 41A in Rohini.

"The Supreme Court on January 29, 2025, had ordered a complete stop to the practice of manual scavenging in all top metropolitan cities — including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad."
"In a glaring violation of the law, the Public Works Department publicly posted images and videos showing manual scavengers waist-deep in sewage during a recent de-silting operation — despite the practice being explicitly banned in India."
"On April 7, 2025, PWD Minister Parvesh Verma had announced that the government was set to deploy advanced sewer cleaning machines across the city to address chronic waterlogging issues."

The deletion of the post by the PWD has not quelled public concern, with activists and citizens demanding accountability and immediate cessation of manual scavenging. The incident highlights ongoing challenges in eradicating this dangerous and illegal practice despite legal and technological advancements.

This controversy underscores the urgent need for strict enforcement of the Supreme Court's ban and accelerated adoption of mechanized solutions to protect workers' health and dignity.

Delhi's Public Works Department deleted a social media post showing manual scavengers at work, sparking public outrage amid a Supreme Court ban on the practice. Despite government plans to deploy advanced sewer cleaning machines, images surfaced of workers waist-deep in sewage during de-silting in Rohini.