Potholes are good for economy now

The (w)hole city is up in arms against the BMC over the state of the roads. But pot-holes are a source of great adventure, as I just experienced.

The tension that builds up as you pray that your rickshaw doesn't topple over, is incomparable.  I can bet my life even an army of finely trained workers cannot dig such fine trenches all over the city in such record time.

As I marvel at the sight of the street bedecked with potholes, Wordsworth's worthy words flash through my mind - "Ten thousands I saw at a glance". And just like the daffodils that noble poet spoke of, "They (the potholes) stretch'd in never-ending line".  

Apart from their aesthetic value, potholes are also an important cog in the wheel of the Indian economy, keeping in line with the government's Employment Guarantee Scheme (EGS).

Every year, greased palms in the municipality award contracts to unscrupulous contractors, who in order to recover their expenses on the ‘grease’, keep quality in check. It's more a case of ‘controlled quality’ than ‘quality control’.

Anyway, these roads are built so that they break up every monsoon, ensuring jobs to a thousand labourers every year. Now consider the horror if a good quality road was constructed, lasting a decade or so. Where would all the labourers go? Such 'strong as iron' roads all over the country. It would render thousands jobless resulting in socio-economic crisis!

By assiduously conserving these catchment areas, the municipality is doing its bit for rain-water harvesting. Furthermore, the municipality also helps the medical community in more ways than you can imagine. Two friends have fractured feet thanks to pot-holes.

One fell off his bike, underestimating the depth of a pot hole, the other twisted her ankle after stepping in one too wide.

Let's just pray that the municipality isn't feeling similarly generous towards John Pinto, the funeral director.

Salil Deshpande