Srinagar, Feb 28: At a time when the central government wants all the manholes and bore-wells be covered across the country, the risk to life is widening in Srinagar as for now even uncovered sumps are serving as the death traps that too under the nose of the City administration.
 Barely half a mile away from the offices of the District Development Commissioner and the Srinagar Municipal Corporation, one finds two uncovered sumps near Syed Mansoor Sahib(RA) shrine square.
 While one is in the middle of the road where vehicles take a turn, the other is a few yards away, just close to the footpath.
 Interestingly, the sumps were dug up during beautification of square for construction of fountain landscaped in Devri stones.
 But while a considerable amount was spend on the fashionable facelift of the busy square, the authorities seem to have forgotten to cover the sumps, expected to feed the fountain.
 The busy road is a key link to SMHS Hospital, Government Medical College and the Shahr-e-Khaas. Interestingly, on Fridays scores of Musalees including senior officials and MLA Khanyar often travel the road for Salah at Syed Mansoor Sahib Shrine.
 But none from among the concerned quarters seems to have seen the death traps.
 The locals said many a driver were wounded when the sump confronted their travel.
 “Some days back a biker fell straight in the killer ditch and he was badly wounded,” complained a medico working at the adjacent GMC.
 The locals, on the other hand, accused the government of being callous towards the City welfare. “This regime has truly turned Srinagar into an ignored City, otherwise why would our welfare be trashed?” alleged a Musalee at Syed Mansoor Sahib(RA) shrine.
 Pertinently, there are scores of uncovered and unlevelled manholes in the City while the administration has failed to get them a proper shape and cover.
 In 2008-2009, it took the Jammu and Kashmir Government a missive from the Central Ministry of Women and Child Development to wake up to the problem of open manholes and pits in Jammu and Kashmir.
 Though a circular was issued then, it made little impact on ground.
 The circular came after the Ministry drew attention of the state authorities towards the problem. 
 “A little slip on part of the authorities can cost our children their lives. Therefore it is important to realize the gravity of the situation and take effective measures to ensure that all bore wells, manholes and pits left open anywhere in the city/rural areas are filled/covered within no time,” the circular (No 09-GAD of 2009) read.
 “These uncovered bore wells, manholes and pits are dangerous to all including animals. However, young children are most vulnerable to such incidents.”
 But the problem persists in the summer capital. 

Lastupdate on : Mon, 28 Feb 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 28 Feb 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 1 Mar 2011 00:00:00 IST