HC Asks BMC to Come Up with Simple, Temporary Mechanism to Deal with Open Manholes

The Bombay High Court on Monday ordered the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to come up with a “simple and temporary” mechanism to avoid any unwanted incidents due to the opening of manholes in the monsoon season.

Last week, the Supreme Court asked the civil body why protective grilles could not be installed in every manhole in the city to ensure that no person or animal could fall into the open manhole.

BMC had initially said that safety nets would only be installed in manholes located in flood-prone areas.

The company on Monday told a judicial panel under acting Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Arif Doctor that protective grills have been prototyped for all manholes, and by June 2024, all manholes in the city will have protective grilles.

To this, the board said that while it appreciated BMC’s plan, one year was too long.

“One year is too long. One monsoon season is enough for an untoward incident. We don’t want any mishap. Isn’t there a simple, temporary mechanism?” said the court.

“What (BMC) is planning is a complex mechanism. Isn’t there a simpler way to stop the fall?” he added.

BMC lawyer Anil Sakhar told the court that the case will be discussed in a meeting to be held on June 23.

Subsequently, the Board declared the case for another hearing on June 26.

The court was hearing a petition by Advocate Roju Thacker seeking contempt against the civil authorities for failing to implement the 2018 Supreme Court orders directing the repair of potholes on all arterial roads in Mumbai and to devise a unified mechanism for compensating citizens. Grievances related to bad roads and potholes.

Thacker made a request that raises concerns about opening manholes in the city.

(This story was not edited by the News18 staff and was published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)