On July 24, Gwangju Seo-gu Council member Ahn Hyeongju urged the expansion of manhole fall prevention facility installations across the entire Seo-gu district during the 332nd temporary session's construction and business report, alongside recovery efforts for heavy rain damage.
Ahn stated, "Recently, due to record-breaking heavy rainfall, manhole covers were lost in other districts, resulting in alarming accidents where pedestrians fell in. Manhole accidents are not merely a matter of facility management; they are directly related to the lives of residents," he emphasized.
He continued, "Although there are a total of 18,915 manholes installed within Seo-gu, the current plan is limited to installing fall prevention facilities at only 220 locations that have been prioritized for replacement, with a total budget of 100 million won. Installing facilities at only 220 locations makes it difficult to eliminate safety blind spots," he pointed out.
Furthermore, he said, "Even though manholes are facilities that residents pass by countless times in their daily lives, they are often left in management blind spots. We must actively utilize disaster and calamity funds and focus our budget and administrative capacity so that fall prevention facilities can be installed on all manholes within the district."
Ahn also stated, "Restoration of damages such as road and sidewalk destruction caused by heavy rain must be carried out swiftly. Prevention is the best approach to disasters, and when damage does occur, a prompt response is necessary to minimize resident inconvenience and secondary accidents."
Meanwhile, through this temporary session, Ahn is thoroughly checking safety issues directly related to residents' lives and the current status of disaster damage recovery. He plans to continue focusing his legislative efforts on creating an urban environment where residents can live with peace of mind.
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