RAWALPINDI, Jan 24: The City District Government Rawalpindi and Rawal Town Municipal Administration (RTMA) have made arrangements for Eid Miladun Nabi but failed to cover the open manholes on the route of procession.

More than 15 uncovered manholes in Moochi Bazaar, at Benazir Bhutto Road, Iqbal Road and Jamia Masjid Road have exposed the tall claims of CDGR and RTMA that it had covered all the manholes.

During visit to see the traditional route of the procession, this reporter found two open manholes at Moochi Bazaar, five at Benazir Bhutto Road, four at Jamia Masjid Road and five at Iqbal Road aka Trunk Bazaar.

“It will be dangerous for the participants of the procession, and children who will pass through the road may fell in the manholes,” said Mohammad Akram, a shopkeeper at Moochi Bazaar, while talking to Dawn.

Mohammad Naseer, an organiser of Eid Miladun Nabi procession, said that the CDGR and RTMA had focused their attention on the areas where PML-N leaders resided like College Road, Satellite Town and Dhoke Ratta.

“The open manholes and uncovered drains near Jamia Masjid pose a serious threat to the lives of the participants of Milad processions,” said Mohammad Abbas, a resident of Imambargah Mohallah near Jamia Masjid Road.

He said that the local residents had informed the administration about the problem.

Nazir Sultan, a resident of Kohati Bazaar, said that the manholes near local mosque were removed two days ago. He said that it was the main route of Muharram procession and the manholes should be covered.

When contacted, Rawal Town Administrator Saif Anwar Jappa said that the RTMA had Rs4.1 million and it awarded the contract to private firm to cover all the open manholes in the city especially on the traditional route of Milad procession.

He said that he had received complaints from the local traders for uncovered manholes on the traditional route of milad procession. “I have ordered to cover all the manholes and if any manhole found uncovered the action will be taken against the officials concerned,” he said.