Barishal Bureau

Three main roads emerge from Bangla Bazar Mosque intersection of the city. Apart from this there is Baptist Mission and Kalu Shah branch road. The drain went under the busiest road. Covering manholes over drains on roads along mid-intersections.

Barishal City Corporation has arranged to cover it with thick rods to avoid any kind of problem starting from heavy vehicles. Then the theft started. Even if the lid is put on the same place six times, it is not permanent in any way. And whenever the traffic pressure increases, three-wheeler vehicles fall into that hole.

Due to this, both the passengers and the driver of the vehicle are injured in the accident. But the city corporation is not able to find any alternative solution.

Recently, the lid was stolen again at the same place a few days ago, so the locals have marked it as an accident site with a rod. City Corporation cannot be blamed for this problem. The words were spoken by Tipu Sultan, a resident of Bangla Bazar area of the city.

Demanding alternative measures to protect manhole covers from thieves, he further said, "Not only Bangla Bazar Mor, the city has seen that most of the manhole covers have been stolen." And pedestrians are suffering from accidents while moving through those places. Especially school-college going students and parents are suffering more.

A large part of Fazlul Haque Avenue is occupied by the City Corporation's multi-storied market. And under that market, drains and pavements have been made over the drains. For this reason manholes have been made every 10 feet and the cover has been installed.

But every night that iron cover is being stolen. As soon as there is a theft, sensible people are pulling a warning with tree branches or clothes. Because the traders are on the ground floor of that market. They have to take precautionary measures to attract buyers. Many are trying to provide support with wood.

On Friday (September 6) night, the iron cover on the sidewalk in front of Banshari department store on the opposite side of Ishwarbasur road of that market was stolen. Due to this, the businessmen there are in trouble. There are also marked with tree branches.

Apan Saha, the owner of the flute, said, "About 8 lids have been stolen from here. Pedestrians can be protected if there is a warning. And in places where there is no warning, 4 to 5 accidents happen every day.

Earlier, when such an incident happened, when the city corporation was informed, people from there would come and cover it. But now no one goes to the city corporation to complain.

He also said, "In the video footage of the CCTV cameras installed in the nearby shops, it was seen that between 3:30 and 4:30 p.m., the thieves brought various equipments including shawls in the van and then broke the lid."

Jordan Road resident Dr. Manjur-ul Alam said that the manhole cover of the drain near his house was stolen four times. Whenever there is no cover, he places it with a branch of a tree.

So that passers-by understand that there is no cover. He said that accidents are still happening. For this alternative measures have to be adopted which cannot be stolen. He alleged that these are usually stolen by drug addicts.

Areas where such iron covers are being stolen are being stolen every night. Starting from Sadar Road, Bogura Road, Battala, Jordon Road, Karim Kutir, Bhatarkhal, New Circular Road, Animal Hospital Lane of the city, this kind of theft continues. Accidents are also increasing with cover theft.

Cleaning officer of Barisal City Corporation. Yusuf Ali said, "The purpose of the iron cover is to get the gas accumulated in the drain out of the manhole in a quick time.

For this reason iron lids have been used. According to my knowledge, the same lid has been installed 5 to 7 times at one place.' He also said that he has informed the engineering branch of the concerned department about the theft of more than 30 iron lids.

Plan to use cement cover now to prevent theft. Otherwise, there is no way to prevent the theft of iron lids. If the same lid is paid more than once, the cost of the city corporation also increases. Apart from that, iron rusts and breaks. This is what the residents of the city corporation said.

Already, cement covers have been used in the drains adjacent to Sadar Girls School. Locals believe that if cement cover is used in every place, theft will be avoided.

Chief Executive Officer of Barishal City Corporation Israel Hossain said, "The cost of replacing the same lid repeatedly is also increasing. For this alternative measures have to be adopted. The engineers of the concerned department are also thinking about the matter.