Manhole covers installed, but debris left behind

Srinagar Colony: After the launch of 'No Open Manhole' policy, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has been installing manhole covers in the city to ensure safety of commuters.

However, the construction waste after the replacement of manholes is left on the roads causing difficulties to the commuters. The recently replaced manhole covers ahead of monsoon arrival in Srinagar Colony have the waste strewn around them causing traffic hurdles.

HMWSSB Manager Narayana said, "Yes, we accept our mistake. It is wrong, but we find it the right way to protect the newly constructed manhole covers on the roads. Diversion boards or cordoning off the areas with ribbons do not work on the roads.

There is always a chance for the commuters, especially who commute by car, to take away the little boards, ribbons or barricades because it is easy to do so. That will result in a pothole at the construction spot. The government's plan to flatten the roads would be lost. Hence, we choose not to clear the waste around the manhole covers until it is dry and well built."

There are over 1.85 lakh sewer manholes in Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) limits. 17,000 manholes on main roads are replaced and others are under the process of replacement.

Speaking on the replacement of manhole covers, Narayana said, "We observed a major issue here. The maintenance of manholes and frames is proving to be a tough task, as the level of manholes and that of roads is not equal. In order to avoid upcoming drain and water flow issues in the rainy season, we are on a task to equalize the levels of manholes and roads."

Explaining the need of equalising the levels of roads and manholes, Narayana said that most manholes are not paid attention while laying new roads. As a result, a new pothole is formed and some other cases manholes are laid over the road with 5 inch high above road which interrupts smooth commutation.

Every month, GHMC replaces nearly 35 damaged manholes in the city. Out of the 30 circles, only 14 circles in the GHMC limits have sewer lines and the rest in the peripheral areas do not have sewer lines.