The Punjab government has started working on a new legal framework to introduce strict laws against manhole cover theft in Lahore and other major and smaller cities of the province. The move aims to curb rising incidents of theft that have caused fatal accidents, sewer blockages, and public safety risks.
Heavy Fines Up to Rs 100 Million Proposed
Under the proposed plan, the government is considering massive financial penalties of up to Rs 100 million for individuals, scrapyard owners, factories, and businesses involved in the illegal buying, selling, or handling of stolen manhole covers.
Authorities revealed that a single manhole cover costs between Rs 8,000 and Rs 12,000, including iron rings. Thieves frequently target the iron ring, which weighs nearly 30 kilograms, along with the steel-reinforced inside concrete covers, to sell for profit in the scrap market.
Organized Criminal Networks Behind Manhole Cover Theft
Government officials believe that organized criminal groups are involved in the systematic theft and resale of manhole covers. This concern was highlighted during a high-level meeting of the Housing, Urban Development, and Public Health Engineering Department, attended by managing directors of Water and Sanitation Agencies (WASA) and other relevant authorities.
The meeting concluded that anyone facilitating the illegal trade, including factories, scrapyards, and hardware dealers, would face strict legal action and heavy penalties.
Special Police Teams to Monitor Theft Networks
To effectively tackle the issue, the Punjab government plans to deploy district-level Special Branch police teams to investigate and monitor suspected criminal operations. The objective is to treat manhole cover theft as a serious organized crime, rather than a petty theft issue.
Officials emphasized that preventing theft is crucial to ensuring public safety, reducing road hazards, and preventing sewer blockages and infrastructure damage.
