From Chinese Press

Manhole proportions

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-05-31 08:44

Security measures have to be tightened to stop the theft of manhole covers and prevent people from losing their lives or being injured, says an article in Yangcheng Evening News. Excerpts:

Several people have fallen into open manholes, with some of them losing their lives. The theft of manhole covers is not only a nuisance, but also poses threat to human life. And the fact that so many of them have been stolen shows how poor our urban management is.

Manholes covers, according to their utility, are supplied by different departments like public facilities, water supply, gas, telecom, power and police. Moreover, the manhole covers differ in size and materials. So people do not know which department they should report to in case they see a manhole cover missing.

Can manhole covers be standardized? If yes, then the onus of supplying and repairing them has to be shouldered by just one department.

Besides, local governments have to strengthen their theft-prevention measures because that's the reason why so many manhole covers are being stolen.

The government can try making manhole covers from strong-but-cheap materials, too, to stop people from stealing them.

(China Daily 05/31/2010 page9)