Hyderabad: A day ahead PM Modi and Ivanka Trump’s arrival for the GES 2017 along with other VVIPs, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply & Sewerage Board are worrying over the unusual disappearance of manhole covers.
According to the water board officials, nearly 20 manhole covers go missing on an average each day and 10 out of these thefts occur in Charminar and Asmangadh divisions.
Now the board officials are burdened over ensuring all manholes are covered en route to Falaknuma Palace ahead of Ivanka’s visit.
The water board sources reportedly said, “Twenty-four hours before Ivanka’s visit to the city, authorities have to keep an hawk’s eye on Charminar division to ensure no manhole is missing as such a theft would turn into a major embarrassment for the city, Telangana and India.”
HMWSSB operations director A Krishna said, nearly 20 manholes go missing every day and 10 of these are reported from Charminar area.
He said, “The division is huge and has several areas, including the ones through which the Ivanka convoy would pass. To prevent theft of manholes, all general managers have been asked to set up teams to visit the areas. A lineman has been told to conduct daily inspections. We are focusing on specific routes. If there are thefts of manhole lids, our teams will immediately report this and ensure replacements. We are also focusing on preventing sewerage overflow on roads” adding that usually, the culprits are the ragpickers who roam around in the areas.
Earlier the Board officials received nearly 20 complaints of missing manhole covers on 9 November.
The officials said, “We haven’t approached police on the thefts. We will use our linemen for identification and replace them on the route of GES visitors.”
Hyderabad: GHMC officials anxious over missing manhole covers ahead of GES
