Bombay high court accepted BMC’s affidavit filed on Monday that said the civic chief has directed all 26 wards to ensure 100% inspection of manhole covers across Mumbai in 10 days, and officers were acting on it.

Mumbai: Coming down on the BMC for an “eyewash” of earlier compliance affidavits, Bombay high court on Monday asked if the municipal body can make a statement that there would be no more unfortunate incidents due to open manholes this monsoon.The HC also expressed concern over the rise in serious incidents and also expressed displeasure at Thane Municipal Corporation’s (TMC) decision to award Rs 75,000 compensation to the parents of a toddler who fell in an open manhole last year.The HC accepted BMC’s affidavit filed on Monday that said the civic chief has directed all 26 wards to ensure 100% inspection of manhole covers across Mumbai in 10 days, and officers were acting on it.When the HC bench asked what about over 2,000 open, but “inaccessible”, manholes yet to be covered with safety grille, senior counsel Anil Sakhare, for BMC, said the civic staff will man areas that are prone to flooding where these manholes are located. “What is the point of these affidavits? It’s an eyewash. You say one thing, but you do another…You’re not doing anything,” a division bench of Justices A S Gadkari and Kamal Khata said. “Human lives are of paramount importance, …Why can’t steps be taken before the monsoon season. Will the BMC keep waiting for someone to lose their life and then jump in to take measures?”The bench also expressed displeasure and disappointment with BMC’s preparedness to receive and swiftly address complaints from citizens about open manholes via phone. It said the BMC must activate a dedicated phone number within 24 hours.The HC was hearing a suo motu PIL on the bad condition of roads across state and a 2019 contempt petition by advocate Ruju Thakker on ensuring Mumbai’s roads are not death traps due to open manholes and potholes.Advocate Jamshed Mistry, as amicus curiae, submitted that since 2018, affidavits from civic bodies do not show the status of roads across the state, but only in Mumbai and Thane.The HC asked state to come back on the next hearing date with concrete plans to ensure roads issues are resolved soon. It also asked state to file an affidavit detailing steps to verify compliance by local bodies statewide, and sought details of FIR and complaints lodged against contractors and civic officials.T