Petitioners approach HC as BMC failed to cover manholes

Mumbai: Petitioners who filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Bombay high court following the death of Dr Amrapurkar due to drowning in an open manhole last year, have sought an urgent hearing of the case after a two-year-old met with a similar fate in Chembur on Saturday.

The petitioners informed the court that despite assurances, the BMC had managed to install safety nets across only 1,200 of the 30,000 manholes in the city and this could cost more lives.

According to senior advocate Sujay Kantawala who appeared for the petitioners following Dr Amrapurkar’s tragic death, the cover of the manhole had been removed to allow floodwaters to drain. The petitioners sought an inquiry and demanded action against the person guilty of removing the manhole cover. They also sought directions to the authorities to put in place safety measures to ensure that there was no repeat of the incident.

At last hearing, the BMC informed the court that even if a manhole cover was removed, a safety net would ensure that no drowning occurred. However, after the minor boy fell into an open drain and died during last week’s downpour, the petitioners did a recce of exactly how many manholes had been covered with safety nets.

Advocate Kantawala said, “As it has come to our notice that only 1,200 manholes have been fitted with nets, we have approached the court for an urgent hearing.”

The division bench of Justices Ranjit More and Anuja Prabhudessai will hear the PIL first on board on Tuesday.