960405

Missing covers of

manholes causing

accidents in Lahore

LAHORE: Missing covers of PTC manholes on the Walton road are posing a great threat to the motorists, motor- cyclists and cyclists and had caused dozens of accidents during last two weeks.

The manholes are in the most places the middle of the road which can not be avoided by the speeding vehicle, motor-cycle or cycle. There are 16 manholes laying uncovered Polo Ground to R.A. Bazaar, hardly one kilo meter distance.

An injured person told APP that he had contacted the concerned authorities in PTC, while official promised to get the covers fixed on the open manholes within a day or so but nothing had so far been done in this regard.

The covers which are made up of concrete, carry 35 to 40 KG of iron bars and people, showing irresponsible behaviour towards their moral and civic obligations, steal them for fixing them at the manholes of their private sewerage. These are also reported to be stolen by the addicts.

Even the covered manholes at the arms of the roads or in the middle of the road have proved to be a permanent nuisance throughout the city as the road constructing agencies never bothered to get the manhole opening levelled with the road surface. They are usually either higher than the road or deeper and in both cases, these cause a great damage to the cars. These manholes belong to sewerage system and Pakistan Telecommunication Corporation but the provision of covers is the responsibility of the parent department.-APP