Karachi child's death exposes manhole hazard in Hyd

Authorities scramble to cover manholes, but solutions remain slow and costly

HYDERABAD:

The death of a toddler in an uncovered manhole in Karachi has prompted authorities to react quickly, covering manholes across the province and eliciting a public apology from the mayor. Yet a lasting solution to the problem remains elusive.

Hyderabad alone has an estimated 83,500 manholes, according to Hyderabad mayor's coordinator GM Buriro, most of which are capped with cemented or wooden covers. The number of uncovered manholes, likely in the hundreds or thousands, is not officially documented.

"The problem with cement covers is they get damaged, and iron bars used in them are often stolen," said an officer of the Hyderabad Water and Sewerage Corporation (HW&SC), who requested anonymity. "Wooden covers are even easier to break and steal." He also noted that persistent financial constraints make it difficult for the corporation to procure replacements consistently.

A local solution has emerged in the form of polyethylene (PE) recycled manhole covers, developed by AltasPak Waste Management under its 'Please Project.' Inaugurated on July 30, the project aimed to produce 100 covers per day. The covers, measuring 21-24 inches in diameter and weighing up to 50 kilograms, can bear loads up to 18 tons.

However, production has lagged, with only around 500 covers manufactured in four months due to delays in securing electricity and load-shedding disruptions. "So far, we have delivered 100 covers to the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (HMC) and received an order for around 200 more," said project lead Samina Parveen. The company now plans night shifts to boost output.

Despite this innovation, civic agencies continue to rely on wooden and cement covers, citing costs: PE covers are priced at Rs6,000-7,000 each, compared to less than Rs2,000 for wooden covers and Rs5,500 for cemented ones. Following the November 30 incident in Karachi, Hyderabad Mayor Kashif Ali Shoro has directed HW&SC to quickly secure uncovered manholes and use PE covers wherever possible. Yet, these instructions have yet to translate into widespread action. Parveen questioned why authorities still favour wooden covers despite the safer and more durable alternative.

As authorities weigh costs against safety, the public continues to face risk from outdated and fragile manhole covers, highlighting the urgent need for a sustainable solution.