In a shocking show of official callousness, for days now, Uttarakhand Secretariat itself has been subjecting lives to danger by leaving two drains uncovered right at its Rajpur Road gate for several days.
It is disquieting that a battery of police men is on duty at this Secretariat gate but none has cared to get the drains covered to prevent injury to pedestrians.
The drains sit right in the middle of a much-used sidewalk and there is a high risk that to a passerby they appear to be covered given their position. When The Pioneer questioned a cop on duty about this negligence, he said, “There is work going on but it is true that the drains should have temporary cover while the contractor’s work is in progress. I shall inform my senior about this.” But why has
none of the many bureaucrats who pass the gate daily, or the police on duty or the contractor cared to cover the drains on their own, is what engenders discontent with the state of affairs. “This used to be covered but they have opened it and the open drain is right in the middle of a major sidewalk. It is dangerous for all the people as well as the many animals in this area. I almost fell into this uncovered drain a day before as it used to be covered earlier so I kept walking like usual but they have uncovered it. This is not acceptable,” said a local who resides near the Secretariat. It being a Sunday hence official off at the time of filing this report, concerned Secretariat officials could not be contacted.
However, it is hoped that those in charge get the message from the cop on duty who assured The Pioneer that he would bring this to the attention of the contractor and the Sub-Inspector and the drains get covered.
But such negligence shown by the Uttarakhand Secretariat itself is a very disappointing scenario.