Shenzhen has experienced more than 30 road collapse accidents since 2007, causing 8 deaths, with subway construction and aging underground water pipes being the main causes. At this year's municipal “Two Sessions,” underground pipeline management became a focus of appeals from people's congress representatives. The Municipal Legislative Affairs Office recently replied that Shenzhen will legislate on underground pipelines, covering underground pipeline management and departmental responsibilities after accidents occur.

Representatives Propose Legislation to Manage Underground Pipelines

Shenzhen's underground pipe network is complex, including cables for communications and power supply as well as pipes for water supply, sewage, and gas. Due to routine maintenance and repair needs, manhole covers must be installed on the road surface. On Binhe Road from west to east, from Xinzhou Interchange to Caitian Interchange, there are dozens of manhole covers. Vehicles passing through this section must either brake or change lanes, which not only affects traffic speed but also easily causes vehicle damage or traffic accidents. At this year's “Two Sessions,” municipal people's congress representatives proposed that the Municipal Legislative Affairs Office include the “Shenzhen Underground Pipeline Management Measures” (referred to as the “Measures”) in the legislative plan, so as to clarify in the form of government regulations the unified management of underground pipeline planning, construction, space resources, and departmental coordination.

Unified Standards for Road Manhole Cover Installation to Be Formulated

“It is suggested that the Municipal Transport Commission formulate unified manhole cover installation standards, scientifically plan and lay out manhole covers on newly built roads, and establish a linkage working mechanism among relevant functional departments and major municipal pipe network groups in planning, construction, management, operation, and rapid emergency response.” Municipal people's congress representative Chen Jie suggested establishing a regular inspection system, promptly holding accountable units found to have installed covers in violation of regulations or failed to carry out timely maintenance, and ordering them to make corrections. In response, the Municipal Legislative Affairs Office said that the “Shenzhen Underground Pipeline Management Measures” has been submitted to the municipal government for approval and included as a Category I government regulation.

“Underground pipeline management involves technical standards and requires strengthened routine supervision. We will try to improve and revise the draft as much as possible and submit it to the municipal government for deliberation.” A relevant person from the Municipal Legislative Affairs Office said that regarding the recent ground subsidence caused by aging underground water pipes, the office has paid attention and will strengthen the responsibilities and supervision of property rights units in revising the “Measures,” as well as strengthen inspections in routine management, requiring competent departments to supervise property rights units in place, otherwise rectification will be required. As for road manhole covers, the Municipal Transport Commission has road standards and the water affairs department has drainage pipe standards, which are not unified; therefore, the “Measures” will try to formulate technical standards.