GHMC chief directs officials to cover manholes on priority

Hyderabad: Taking into cognizance ‘The Hans India’ report on open manholes and uncovered storm water drains posing serious threat to residents and commuters alike along the battered and bumpy Srinagar Colony main road, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) Commissioner B Janardhan Reddy on Thursday visited the stretch and instructed officials to cover the gaping manholes on priority.

The GHMC Commissioner inspected the site in Srinagar Colony highlighted by the ‘Jago Re’ within 48 hours after the report was published in ‘The Hans India’ under the title 'Oh God, save us from this open manhole' on Tuesday.

Expressing his displeasure over the pace of works, the Commissioner directed the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) officials to complete sewerage pipeline works within a week and also asked the GHMC officials to lay new roads by month end.

Elaborating on the Commissioner’s inspection visit, GHMC Major Roads Circle Executive Engineer K Ashok Reddy said that the Commissioner had already issued instructions to cover the open manholes immediately and asked them to set up a dashboard listing out the status of ongoing works, time limit and mobile phone numbers of officials working at Srinagar Colony.

He said that the Commissioner also directed officials to ensure that there was no water stagnation as open manholes would not be visible to commuters.

When asked about the delay in the works, Ashok Reddy said that about 80 per cent of the pending works pertained to the Water Board and the GHMC would complete road repairs in three weeks along the 1.9-km stretch in Srinagar Colony. He said that the Commissioner also directed Water Board and Electricity department officials to expedite works in the area.