Patna, June 30: The civic body sanctioned Rs 1.45 crore during its board meeting today to cover all manholes in the state capital.

Sources in Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) told The Telegraph that though the manholes had caused several fatal accidents in Patna in the past, the tender to cover them was floated last week.

Earlier, PMC commissioner Pankaj Kumar Pal had claimed that the work of covering the manholes had been started and around 100 such death traps had been covered. Despite several attempts, the commissioner could not be contacted today, as he did not pick up his phone.

The sources expressed doubts if the uncovered manholes in the Patna municipal area could be covered up before rain lashes the city.

“The work has started recently. The tender for its was issued last week and some contractors have been hired to do the job. There are certain problems regarding preparing the casting of the lids. The entire process needs time. Fortunately it has not yet started to rain heavily and we have some time to complete the work. Now, with the civic body sanctioning the funds, the work will be executed on a war footing. We expect to complete the work fast,” a PMC official told The Telegraph on condition of anonymity.

Earlier, the PMC had said around 45 per cent of the manholes in the state capital were still without lids.

“During today’s meeting, the PMC commissioner stressed that he had initiated the process to cover up the manholes and work had been completed in many areas. But there are still many gaping manholes. Many such manholes are located in Patna City. On August 14, 2011, a three-year-old girl had died after falling in a manhole in the Kadamkuan area. Three months prior to the accident, a five-year-old child, Roshan Kumar, died after falling into one such death trap in the Bhootnath Road area under Agamkuan police station,” a source said.

Approval has also been granted for construction of proper drains in the area between Karbhigaiya and New Bypass and Rs 1.01 crore has been sanctioned for the same. Also, a nod has been given for the construction of a road leading to the PMC’s dumping yard at the Sampat Chak area of the capital.

“All these work are related to monsoon preparation. The manholes need to be covered up at the earliest because heavy shower can lash the city anytime. It would have been better if the tenders had been floated earlier,” a PMC official said.

Mayor Afzal Imam said 31 borings would be constructed to solve the drinking water problem in the city.