Pits dug for making bricks in Bhaktapur risking lives of children

Bhaktapur, Dec 27: Lives of children, in particular the children of labourers working at various brick factories in Bhaktapur, have been put at risk with pits dug haphazardly in the vicinity claiming lives.

Ten days ago, a three-year-old child drowned in a ditch dug in the premises of a brick factory to store water to be used for making bricks at Sipadole.

Each brick factory digs at least 20 pits up to 20 feet deep to store water for making bricks, but they are left open putting the children at risk.

According to the Metropolitan Police Range, Bhaktapur, 17 children drowned in pits dug for making bricks in the area in the previous past three years (six in 2070 B.S., five in 2071 B.S. and six in 2072 B.S.).

 When asked, police said breaching of the agreement struck between the District Administration Office and owners of brick industries in the area making it mandatory to guard such pits with barbed wires or any other means has made the matters worse.

A meeting led by then Chief District Officer Tej Prasad Poudel earlier this year had asked owners of brick factories in the area to make such pits safe for people especially children by constructing fence around them.

However, no brick factories have obeyed the agreement, said Deputy Superintendent of Police Krishna Prasain. 
Chairman of the Bhaktapur Brick Entrepreneurs Association Natibhai Hyamba said the association has already ordered all brick factories in the area to make such pits safe, claiming that some had started guarding the dug ditches.