If I was a builder who built a
sub-standard building that collapsed and killed a few people, or if I
was an engineer who inspected and certified such a building as safe,
I would be arrested. If I was not very rich, I would probably do some
jail time too. I think it is also safe to assume that the state would
chip in and offer compensation for the deaths. It does so in cases of
accidents, fires, or bridges falling.
First published here: https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/motoring/road-accidents-do-not-seem-to-raise-the-same-chorus-of-clamour-other-tragedies-befalling-the-general-public-do/article25879817.ece
Funny, then, that a city should simply
shake off responsibility when its own municipality is directly
responsible for the safety and maintenance of the space. The failure
to maintain roads can, and does lead to deaths. But somehow, these
deaths do not lead to an outcry, or calls for justice and affixing of
culpability, the way a building or bridge collapse death would.
The Hindu reported recently that,
between 2013 and 2017, close to 15,000 Indians had died in accidents
caused by potholes. Other reports suggest that the government has
admitted to over 9300 deaths and 25000 people being injured because
of potholes over the last three years. Our Supreme Court has
described this situation as “unacceptable”.
Mumbai, with its nearly five month
monsoon spell, is especially vulnerably to pothole-related damage. In
July this year, a young motorcyclist was killed when his bike fell
after hitting a pothole. Just days before, two other pothole related
incidents were reported, one involved a pedestrian and another a
mother-of-two whole was riding pillion on a bike.
Earlier this month, the Brihanmumbai
Municipal Corporation (BMC) flatly refused to pay compensation to
victims of road accidents, even if these deaths were caused by
potholes. A corporator had demanded compensation, in response to
which, the BMC said that the roads were the responsibility of the
contractors.
In November, a woman and a six month
old baby were reported killed when the bike they were riding pillion
on skidded on a potholed road in Dadar. The family of four on the
bike was thrown off and crushed by an oncoming water tanker. Oddly
enough, the police thought it fit to arrest the tanker driver, but
not to take any action against those who are responsible for filling
potholes on the roads.
The BMC has not responded well to
criticism of its handling of the pothole situation. When radio jockey
Malishka spoofed the “Sonu” song, calling it the “Pothole Mix”,
changing the lyrics to describe the mess the city is reduced to
during the rainy season – potholes, water-logging, traffic and
stalling of trains. The Shiv Sena and its corporators responded with
outrage, suggesting that she be sued for 'defaming' the municipal
body. Eventually, the BMC did send a notice to the RJ's mother, for
“dengue breeding” at home.
Perhaps the corporators need to take
some lessons from Mumbaikar Dadarao Bilhore. In 2015, his teenage son
died in a pothole related accident. By June 2018, the grieving father
had managed to fill up 556 potholes. He did express the hope that the
BMC and MMRDA would look at people and be inspired to do a better
job.
Mr Bilhore has shown that it can be
done quickly and efficiently. It is, nevertheless, a great tragedy
that heartbroken citizens should have to do a job for which taxpayers
are already paying municipalities and their contractors. Perhaps the
courts need to do more than say “unacceptable”.
First published here: https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/motoring/road-accidents-do-not-seem-to-raise-the-same-chorus-of-clamour-other-tragedies-befalling-the-general-public-do/article25879817.ece