Ensure all manholes outside HC premises are covered, GCC told

CHENNAI: Chief Justice MN Bhandari and Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy of the first division bench passed the direction on closing a contempt petition filed by V Tamizhanban in 2018. The petitioners sought direction to take action against the GCC and CMWSSB for not adhering to the HC order dated July 31, 2018, directing the respondents to address the uncovered manholes in the city.

“While closing the contempt petition, we expect from the respondents that if any manhole remains uncovered and unnoticed by the court or by the petitioner or the manhole cover is damaged, they would immediately address it, to avoid any type of incident that had occurred in the past due to uncovered or damaged manholes,” the bench ruled.

J Ravindran, Additional Advocate General (AAG) submitted that all actions have been taken to prevent the use of boundary walls of HC from being used for nature calls.

“Flowerpots have been placed to beautify the area to see that it is maintained and kept clean. A decision has been taken to cover all the manholes if they remain uncovered,” the AAG submitted.

Appreciating the action taken by the respondents, the judges directed that if a temporary toilet is required to be placed for the use of small shopkeepers opposite HC premises, the respondents may find out suitable place so that the arrangement of the temporary toilet to the shop keepers is also provided nearby their place of work.

When the matter was last taken by the bench on March 22, the judges expressed their dissatisfaction stating the respondents have not taken steps to stop the usage of the area near the boundaries of the HC for urination or toilet purpose.

On September 29, 2021, the GCC and CMWSSB informed the HC that about 11,994 manholes have been identified in Chennai city. Of them, 5193 were rectified on that date and the remaining will be rectified within October 2021.