BMC will be held responsible if any untoward incident due to open manholes: HC

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday said while it appreciates the work being done by the citys civic body to cover open manholes but until then if there is any untoward incident then the corporation would be held responsibleA division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Abhay Ahuja said it was concerned over the issue of open manholes across the city and sought the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC to come up with a permanent solutionThe bench was hearing a bunch of petitions raising concerns over the increasing number of potholes across Maharashtra and also open manholesBMCs counsel Anil Sakhare told the court on Wednesday that the civic body was addressing the issue of open manholes on a warfooting basis and work was on to close all such manholesThe bench then said while the corporations efforts are appreciated but if till then there was any untoward incident then the BMC would be held responsibleGood you BMC are working but till then if harm is caused to anyone we will hold you responsible We are appreciating the BMC but what happens if a manhole is open and someone falls down Chief Justice Datta saidAlso Read Mumbai BMC to finalise contractor for Gokhale bridge this weekIn such a situation we wont ask the aggrieved person to initiate civil suit for compensationwe will say that your officers are responsible he addedThe bench suggested the BMC make use of modern science and technology and devise something by which the officer concerned is alerted the moment the lid of a manhole is removedIn this modern day of science and technology cant we think of something else Why dont you BMC devise something by which you come to know if someone even touches the cover Then a beep goes off in your office Why dont you come up with something like a sensor the court saidThe bench also suggested use of iron grills below the manhole coverYou must do some progressive thinking It is your job We cannot keep saying what needs to be done the court saidThe bench further said there has to be some standard operating procedure to address the issue of open manholesA solution has to be provided by you What should be the appropriate solution for this you tell us We need permanent measures the HC said posting the matter for further hearing on December 19This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever