April 16, 2009 1:12:08 am
In yet another example of substandard work done by the contractors and negligence on behalf of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC),residents across the city have reported that the manhole lids made of concrete have broken within days of being installed.
The negligence has resulted in accidents in different pockets of the city. The accidents have mostly taken place when commuters moving on their vehicle suddenly notice the broken lids and get little time to dodge them.
Be it the New VIP Road stretch between Panchratna building and Gorwa workshop or Vasna road,the situation is the same everywhere. While at some places,the concrete padding around the iron lids has come out exposing the iron lids,at other places the entire lid was seen caved in.
What is wrong if five to six lids out of hundreds in the city are damaged? One must look at the positive side of the citys development, said a top official who is monitoring the road projects.
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While most contractors in different wards have shown their ignorance towards these mishaps,some tried to defend themselves saying the lids were damaged due to road rollers during the road projects. Some even came up with an argument that the lids are bound to be damaged.
The corporators who are supposed to bring issues to the notice of the administrative wing were ignorant about the issue themselves. I never knew that the manhole lids were broken. I would visit the spots and take up the issue at the highest level, said Rajesh Jadav,corporator from Ward 11.
Newsline found that one of the severely broken lids
was located just opposite
Jadavs residence in Panchratna Apartment on the Subhanpura road.
Defending himself,municipal commissioner M K Das said theft of lids is one of the major issues,which has to be addressed.
We have filed large number of complaints with the police regarding lid thefts. The other alternative with us was to fit the concrete lids,which we are doing. However,if it is true that no maintenance is done and no sign boards are placed near the damaged lids,I would certainly initiate inquiry into the matter, he said.
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