Citizen Connect: Open manholes near Government Hospital in Egmore pose health risks

Open manholes on Tamil Salai in Egmore irks residents and commuters alike as it continuously leaks and makes the neighbourhood unclean.

These manholes, on the footpath, are on a stretch that has a government hospital in proximity. However, they remain unattended even as they worsen the condition of the roads after the rains.

"The problem has been persisting for more than two months now as two manholes on the footpath and one on the main road continues to leak. As it rains, the drain water mixes with rainwater and stagnates in puddles on the road that makes it difficult for pedestrians to walk on the stretch," said Sumathy, a resident of the locality.

There are many pushcart vendors and daily wage workers who sell goods, mainly used by patients and their relatives who are admitted at the hospital in the vicinity. The open manholes make their goods dirty and unhygienic to be used by the patients.

"The dirty water usually flows towards the goods we sell and makes them unfit to be sold to patients. As the place remains dirty, passers-by also throw waste papers and plastic covers near the manhole. The place also emanates a foul odour, which makes it difficult for us to stay here throughout the day," said Raghu, a shopkeeper in the area.

Residents said that sewage water from the manholes flows over to the main road after rain and does not seep out easily. The manholes on footpaths cause inconvenience to the pedestrians also.

The residents and regular commuters said that they have complained about the issue to the civic authorities, however, no action has been taken yet.

"Civic authorities should fix the underlying sewage line to prevent the leakage. We have complained to the corporation staff to check for the leakage and close the manhole properly. But it has been in the same situation even after several complaints," said Srinivasan, a resident of the locality.

When contacted, the zonal officer assured of necessary action stating that the leakage in the sewage line will be corrected soon.