Smart City’getting ‘Very Smart’? Digging New Concrete Roads Every Now & Then

By
Alfie Dsouza, Team Mangalorean.
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Smart City’getting ‘Very Smart’? Digging New Concrete Roads Every Now & Then

Mangaluru : I have said it in the past, and will say it again that, digging of new or old concrete roads in Mangaluru will never stop- because if you look around the City, every now and then, laborers will be cutting or digging roads, either because of a faulty under ground water pipe or to lay new Mescom power lines or Telephone cable wires. We have seen it and will see it in future too. Without proper planning new roads are constructed, and after a while the new roads are dug to lay cables or what not- But being a “Smart City”, it seems like Mangaluru is getting “Very Smart” in a different way- there’s absolutely no proper planning when constructing new concrete roads- by not inspecting if there are faulty water pipes or faulty utility cables underneath. It’s only after problems arise, that our Smart Engineers, Contractors and laborers start cutting or digging the road.

And due to these digging up and shoddy work of MCC or other departments involved, pedestrians have to bear with all these inconveniences and also create traffic snarls which is an added nightmare. The story here is about the recent digging/cutting of a portion of the road, opposite Domino’s Pizza/ Rose Court apartment near Bendorewell, Mangaluru, where since couple of days laborers have been working non-stop to fix a faulty water pipe beneath- and worst part is that even during late night and wee hours they have been working, creating noisy atmosphere for the residents nearby, including those living in Rose Court apartment, which is right in front of this dug up spot. Absolutely no common sense on the part of the engineer nor the contractor nor the laborers to continue with the noisy digging work, when citizens are asleep.

While rest of the world is using PVC pipes for water supply, but in India we still have the older type of metal pipes for water supply, which actually should be used only for drainage/waste drainage, and not for pure water supply. And even in Mangaluru we have many such old metal water pipe lines, which breakdown or leak often- but no one takes the initiative to replace them when new roads are constructed- and as a result we have this constant digging when problems arise. Using PVC pipes is the best source, because they have smooth and non reacting inside surfaces which does not react with acids. So being non-reactive to acids, PVC is used in piping, plumbing for water supplies, and its way too cheap than metal pipes.

And also being highly flexible and having a wide range of fittings, PVC pipes can be turned and used at corners, edges, curves, turns etc easily. No tension of connecting one pipe to another at curves and edges. Easy to cut, and is much lighter, stronger and can be made in much longer lengths. On the other hand, metal once compressed keeps that shape and can cause weakness in the metal walls and possibly crack causing leakage . Also water and oxygen cause ferrous metals to oxidize which creates rust on both the inside and outside of the pipes and eventually weakening it . Build up of rust in the pipework will also restrict flow of water increasing the pressure on the walls of the pipe and reduced flow to the customer.

In the case of ground movement PVC simply bends according to the ground it is laid in where as metal does not and if soil beneath it sinks eventually the pressure on the top will distort the pipe permanently again restricting flow . PVC also prevents any form of contamination being added to the water passing through It . Although the leach of iron is not harmful to humans , many smaller pipes were once made of lead and small amounts did get added to the water , this over time builds up in the body as it does not get excreted like excess iron does and can cause severe damage to the brain and kidneys. So knowing this, why our officials at the Water Department not switching over the metal water pipes to PVC, thereby avoid all these consequences created to the public and also waste of tax payers money.

Richard, a Junior Engineer with the water Supply department speaking to Team Mangalorean said that the City still has many such metal water pipes which leak at the joints, which is the problem in this case here- and many metal pipes corrode after many years, thereby resulting in breaking up- and so we have all these problems- and eventually most of these metal water supply pipes will be replaced soon, until then citizens have to bear with the department and feel the brunt when these water pipes break down. Thomas, a resident from Rose Court apartment speaking to Team Mangalorean said, “These laborers have been digging the road whole night, we couldn’t even sleep since our window faces right towards the road. Totally lack of common sense on the part of these contractors/laborers to work past late hours”.

Yes, development work is needed- that is for sure. But proper planning should be done, which is lacking here. And also once the dug work is done, MCC engineer should see that the dug up area is put back to its original shape and not leave it incomplete and shabby. Just wait and see, for few days or months the dug up area near Bendorewell will be left unattended, and will also be a safety hazard for pedestrians and motorists. And one thing for sure, when it comes to the safety of the motorists and citizens, no civic departments officials give a damn about it. Now that the portion of this road has been dug, it will be a long long time before it is fully restored to the original condition- and that has been the situation in the past and will also be in future too? Bah humbug!

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