So, no one was surprised when a man was caught while trying to sell a stolen manhole cover for Rs 1,200 in the Khokhra area on Wednesday. After all, it is a global phenomenon that left authorities wondering how to curb the menace since round the clock vigil is not possible to just guard a manhole cover! The weight of one cover is around 50 kg, which if translated into monetary terms, comes to nearly Rs 2,500.

In fact, it is the steel demand from China that has pushed up the scrap metal prices the world over, if reports from various media are to be believed. Interestingly, the manhole covers that are used in the US are also made in India. So, the quality of the stolen manhole covers remains the same, much to the satisfaction of those in the scrap recycling business.

Efforts to preserve manhole covers have remained ineffective; even welding them down with internal surface of the drains has failed.

In Ahmedabad, not only manhole covers, even lids of small chambers are not spared. After stealing the covers, the thieves head straight to scrap dealers to make a quick, easy buck. The thieves are often jobless drug addicts or habitual drinkers who have to raise money somehow to satisfy their urges.

A scrap dealer said the prices of scrap metals have seen a 30 per cent rise in the last one year. The prices ranged between Rs 18-20 per kilogram around this time last year. But they have shot up to around Rs 25-28 a kilo now.

Another dealer said he had no idea if the metal was exported to China, but the consignments might be leaving from Kandla port.

Deputy Municipal Commissioner (east) Capt Dilipkumar Mahajan said the AMC was aware of the problem and was going to check it.