According to data revealed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), about 400 manhole covers were stolen between January and July this year, i.e 2023. This means, an average of 57 thefts have occurred in a month.
Therefore, in this regards, the civic body has filed 50 FIRs for this.
It is pertinent to note that the Bombay High Court (HC) has repeatedly reprimanded the municipality for failing to cover open manholes that become death traps during monsoons.
Manhole covers made of cast iron are frequently stolen. Because thieves and hoodlums sell these manhole covers in the market for INR 3,000 to 5,000. According to administrative statistics, 836 manhole covers were stolen in 2022, the highest in the last four years.
The BMC went into action mode from June when it started reporting cases of manhole cover theft to the police. The Municipal Corporation has also warned of strict action against the scrap dealers if they purchase stolen covers. "However, complaints are mostly registered against unknown persons, who are rarely nabbed by the police," said a senior civic official.
Cover stolen in previous years
2019: 386
2020: 458
2021: 564
2022: 836
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