Success story

[Mohdafzal1963]

Respected Karira Saab,

I have several RTI Success stories and I would like to share this one with you.

SUBJECT: LIFT INSPECTION BY PWD & LIFT ACCIDENTS ACROSS MAHARASHTRA.

Maharashtra has 86,154 lifts and each year 5000/6000 new lifts keep adding. As per the Bombay Lift Act 1939 and Lift Rule 1958, it is mandatory on the part of the PWD to inspect every single lift twice in each year. PWD has only 16 Electrical Engineers for inspection of all lifts across Maharashtra. For about 20 years the PWD has been asking the State Government to increase the number of Lift Engineers, but there has been no response. Now if you compare the NO. of lifts as against the No. of electrical Engineers, it is humanly not possible to take inspection, forget about twice in each year, it is not possible even in 5/6 years.

I filed an RTI application with the PWD, Govt. of Maharashtra, got the required information and than filed a Public Interest Litigation [PIL].

PWD filed an affidavit in High Court stating that they have 16 Engineers, 21 Engineers will be immediately be inducted and balance 25 will be filled via MPSC.

Immediately 21 Electrical Engineers for inspection of lifts were inducted, plus the 16 Engineers that were already there brought the total to 37. For the last 20 years the state Govt. was delaying the recruitment of Electrical Engineers, immediately advertised the post, Both exams have been completed and there process is under fast track to fill the banance 25 Electrical Engineers.

Out of the 4 Prayers, the High Court issued Order on one of them which is as follows.
Government website showing-
(i) the total no. of lifts in Maharashtra
(ii) the number of lift licenses issued during the financial year.
(iii) daily inspections carried out by the Inspectors in this regard.
(iv) list showing number of lift accident occurred in Maharashtra
(v) investigations carried out.

In addition the said Order further states that under the instructions from the Chief Engineer, that the information about the number of lift and the number of lift licences issued as well as the inspection carried out by the lift inspectors shall be displayed on the Government website from 1st April 2012. It is stated that the information about the inspection and the name of the inspectors as well as the date of inspection will be updated initially on a half yearly basis and from 1st April 2013 the information will be updated on quarterly basis.

Stand over to 12 December 2011.

I enclose herewith Link where all documents have been uploaded for your immediate ready reference.

LIFT INSPECTION & PWD ENGGINEERS
http://www.box.net/shared/3mp1axd1pd


EXPERT COMMITTEE’S REPORT FILED WITH THE STATE TO OVERHAUL THE 71 YEARS OLD BOMBAY LIFT ACT AND 51 YEAR OLD LIFT RULES PERTAINING TO PWD LIFT INSPECTIONS AND SAFETY IN LIFT ACCIDENTS ACROSS THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA FOLLOWED BY MY SERIOUS OBJECTIONS
http://www.box.net/shared/p76bep0b25

NEWS ARTICLE INDIAN EXPRESS ON 15.7.2011.
http://www.expressindia.com/latest-n...ls-pwd/817592/

YOUTUBE
MAHARASHTRA GOVT PWD SHORTAGE OF STAFF RESULTING IN LIFTS ACCIDENTS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cd2Qk8zHwTo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIbW_XJ2PKY

[ganpat1956]

Sponsorer

Good work Mohammed Afzal. Your follow-up with a PIL reflects the true spirit of RTI activism. Keep it up.

[karira]

Congratulations on your success !

Members can read more about Afzals activities in these threads:

Maharashtra: RTI query on series of lift accidents triggers campaign for safety

Only 11 inspectors for over 73,000 lifts in Mumbai-Pune region