Punjab mulls up to Rs100m fine to curb theft of manhole covers

The Punjab government is preparing a new legal framework to curb the theft of manhole covers in Lahore and other cities in the province.

According to a newspaper report, proposals include imposing heavy financial penalties of up to Rs100 million on those involved in the illegal trade.

Citing officials, the report said that the issue warranted stricter laws to address what they describe as an organised criminal activity rather than isolated thefts.

It said that the theft is driven by the resale value of materials used in manhole covers. A single cover, along with its iron ring, costs between Rs8,000 and Rs12,000, while the iron ring alone can weigh up to 30 kilograms.

The steel and iron components can fetch thousands of rupees in scrap markets, making them an easy target for thieves.

Officials said stolen covers and rings are often sold to factories, hardware shops and businesses linked to construction and sewerage works. They added that multiple cases have been reported in which children fell into uncovered manholes after the covers were removed.

Another official said the decision to introduce tougher legal measures was taken after authorities identified organised networks involved in the theft and resale of manhole covers. The matter was discussed during a recent meeting of the housing and urban development and public health engineering department, attended by managing directors of water and sanitation agencies and other relevant officials.

During the meeting, it was shared that the thefts appeared to be systematic, with stolen covers being channelled through scrap dealers and other outlets. Participants agreed that new laws were needed to hold not only the thieves but also those facilitating or profiting from the trade accountable.

The proposed framework includes strict financial penalties, with fines reaching up to Rs100 million for factories, scrapyard owners and other entities found involved in stealing, purchasing, reselling or handling stolene manhole covers in any form.

As part of the plan, district-level special branch police teams will also be engaged to monitor and investigate suspected groups.