Damaged, open manholes a threat to city residents

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, March 19

Damaged manholes are posing a threat to commuters in the city. Many of them are not properly closed and can cause serious accidents. Passersby run a risk of meeting with an accident while crossing the roads having manholes that are either damaged or kept open by sanitation workers.

The Municipal Corporation has failed to take the issue seriously. Manholes can be seen on Goniana Road, Model Town Phase 3, Powerhouse Road and in other parts.

Instead of coming up with a concrete solution, MC employees or residents put traffic cones or other material in such manholes as a warning sign to highlight these vulnerable points.

Also the manholes covers protruding above the road surface pose a great risk to the lives of motorists, mostly two-wheeler riders. During rainy days when the roads are inundated, two-wheeler riders are unable to spot such manholes due to which mishaps take place.

Gurleen Kaur, a city resident, said it was the apathy of the officials due to which such problems were not taken care of by the civic authorities and residents had to suffer. Even the contract of maintenance of sewerage had been given to Triveni company, but they were also not solving the problems. She demanded that all manholes should be properly covered with covers.

Officials of the Municipal Corporation said they would get it checked and if any manhole cover found damaged or open, we would repair or change it as it would be repaired or changed on the spot.