President of the Hyderabad Chamber of Small Traders & Small Industry (HCSTSI), Saleem Memon, has expressed grave concern over the increasing number of open manholes and uncovered sewers across Hyderabad, stating that the issue has gone beyond institutional negligence and is now a direct threat to human lives.
Citing recent media reports, he said that nearly 60,000 manholes exist across the three talukas of Hyderabad—Latifabad, City, and Qasimabad —many of which remain uncovered. Major and busy roads, including Court Road, Station Road, Hali Road, Tower and Cloth Market Road, have effectively turned into accident-prone zones due to open sewers, posing serious risks to children, senior citizens, and motorcyclists.
HCSTSI President pointed out that the situation becomes even more dangerous at night due to inadequate street lighting, making open manholes nearly invisible and turning minor negligence into a potential tragedy. He referred to a recent incident on Hali Road involving two doctors, which clearly reflects the severity of the issue. In several areas, shopkeepers and residents have been forced to place wooden planks and debris over open manholes as a warning, highlighting the failure of the civic administration.
The HCSTSI President informed that, in view of this alarming situation, he has formally written a letter to the Mayor of Hyderabad, urging immediate and emergency measures to cover all open manholes and drains across the city. The letter also includes practical recommendations for a permanent and sustainable solution to this long-standing issue.
Reflecting on the city’s past, Mr. Memon said that Hyderabad was once regarded as a clean, well-organized, and safe city, where citizens felt secure in their daily lives. Unfortunately, he added, the town today is suffering from a severe lack of basic civic facilities and administrative inefficiencies. He emphasized that restoring Hyderabad’s lost dignity and identity will require not temporary fixes, but bold, extraordinary, and decisive measures.
He stressed that Union Council Chairmen should be assigned full responsibility for manholes and open drains within their respective areas, along with dedicated funds to carry out this task. He also called for ensuring the installation and restoration of street lights in line with the standards of developed cities. Furthermore, he recommended durable plastic or fiber-based manhole covers with no scrap value to eliminate theft permanently.
Concluding his statement, HCSTSI President said that there is no responsibility greater than protecting human lives, and any further delay in addressing this matter could lead to irreparable consequences. He urged the Mayor of Hyderabad, the district administration, and the concerned departments to treat this issue as a top priority and take concrete steps to make Hyderabad once again a clean, safe, and proud city.
