A recent survey by the Hyderabad Traffic Police has revealed that 460 manholes in the city are either above or below the road level, posing a threat to motorists and causing traffic jams. Also, a large number of manholes do not have covers or have badly damaged ones. Lack of coordination between GHMC and the Water Board is said to be responsible for the mess. GHMC manages manholes on storm water drains, while Water Board controls the sewerage network.
“While the Water Board workers tell it is the GHMC’s duty to remove the silt from the road, the GHMC staff blame it on the Water Board. It is the residents who suffer as drainage silt not only gives off a bad smell but also causes healthproblems. When it rains, the silt flows again into the drainage lines,” says Mohammed Nazeeruddin of Nampally. Additional commissioner of police (traffic) C.V. Anand said he has sent the list of manholes to both GHMC and the Water Board asking them to level the manholes with the road level.