Other than waterlogging and pathetic roads,what has further added to the agony of the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation are the manhole lids which are damaged excessively by heavy rain. At a meeting of Congress councillors held with Mayor Harcharan Singh Gohalwaria on Monday,the issue was raised. Surprisingly,the number of manhole lids bought were 150 on Monday,it increased to 700 on Tuesday. Balkar Singh,councillor,ward number 55,told Ludhiana Newsline,We were told that there are only 150 new manhole lids available with MC. There are 75 councillors and in outer wards,a minimum two-three lids are broken or stolen in a month. The problem is further aggravated in monsoon when water overflows and even the construction material put by residents on lids damages them. We cannot stop people from making new buildings and 150 lids are not suffice in any case. Congress spokesperson Parminder Mehta said,Open manholes are too dangerous. Children can fall into them and a person walking in rain can overstep anytime. Even animals are hurt if lids are not of proper size or missing. But MC is not at all serious about the issue. However,when contacted,Mayor Harcharan Singh Gohalwaria said,Work of the Opposition is to criticise but today only we have received more manhole lids. Now we have around 700 of them. That too of all the sizes. Even then if they will be short in monsoon,we have no problem in purchasing more from open market. However,these have arrived through tenders. Reportedly,manhole lids have been sent to the storeroom of O&M cell in zone-B office.
