4 to 5 drain covers being stolen every day, Nagpur Municipal Corporation & cops fail to act

NAGPUR: Hundreds of manhole covers have been stolen from parts of East and Central Nagpur in the last five months. With no action by the NMC or even police, the thieves have become so emboldened that four to five manhole covers are being stolen each day, claim former corporators.
Raising the issue with Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s administrator Radhakrishnan B, former independent corporator Abha Pande has demanded that an FIR be lodged with Nagpur police for thorough investigation. Radhakrishnan B assured Pande to look into the matter.
TOI has been reporting about manhole covers being stolen by unscrupulous elements across the city.
“Almost 200 manhole covers made of cast iron were stolen from wards falling under Satranjipura zone in the last five months. On December 14, I met Radhakrishnan B who had instructed executive engineer and assistant municipal commissioner of the zone to file an FIR without any delay,” Pande told TOI.
Pande also submitted video recording from several CCTV cameras showing thieves stealing manhole covers to the administrator. Despite this, the zone officials have sent only a letter to the police administration to take note of manhole cover thefts, Pande said.
“Had the authorities acted swiftly, many manhole covers could have been saved from being stolen,” Pande said. Thieves are striking again and today the situation is such that every day at least four to five manhole covers are being stolen, she claimed. Already, accidents due to open chambers have increased. Despite request to cover all sewage chambers with proper manhole covers, the NMC has done nothing citing fund crisis.
Another former corporator from North Nagpur Manoj Sangole said such complaints pour in not just from Satranjipura zone, but also from Ashi Nagar zone.
NMC sources said they suspect hand of scrap dealers in stealing these covers made of cast iron for metal. Sources said a cast iron manhole cover costs about Rs15,000. But in scrap market, these are being sold for Rs1,000 to Rs1,500.
“The iron lid manhole covers should have been replaced with concrete lids long ago. NMC has taken zero efforts to change them after similar incidents took place across the city many years ago. There are many such covers that are not replaced. The uncovered manholes pose danger to pedestrians and other road users,” said the former corporators.
Several accidents, mostly involving two-wheeler riders, have taken place due to missing manholes covers, they said.
Pande and Sangole said many locals cover the open manholes with tree branches and plastic crates to warn others. “It is a temporary measure, but open manhole remains dangerous,” Pande said.