Put up red flag posts around open manholes to prevent accidents: Bombay High Court to BMC

The Bombay High Court on Monday, observed that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) should put up a red flag post or some warning sign near or around an open manhole to ensure no person falls into it.

A division bench headed by Justice R M Sawant also asked the petitioners, Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association, to give suggestions to the BMC if any, to adopt a better method to tackle the problem of open manholes during heavy rains or floods.

Senior advocate Anil Sakhare, appearing for the corporation, however, said that nothing more survives in the plea, as manholes in flood-prone areas and other identified areas have been fitted with iron grills. So, even if a manhole is opened by someone, no person will accidentally fall into it.

Earlier, the corporation had informed the court that the work of installing protective iron meshes over manholes in flood-prone areas across the city, was completed.

The PIL was filed following the death of Bombay Hospital gastroenterologist Dr Deepak Amrapurkar last year after he fell into an open manhole during heavy rains. The cover of the manhole had been illegally removed by some locals to allow the water accumulated due to heavy rains in the Elphinstone Road area, to seep through. The court has now posted the matter for further hearing after two weeks.

IN THE PAST

• PIL was filed following the death of gastroenterologist Dr Deepak Amrapurkar last year after he fell into an open manhole during heavy rains