No shock for these incidents

Pune have many unsafe installations

Two people burned in the incident on Monday highlights the dangerous situation vis-v-vis power lines and residents in Pune. A mother and child sustained injuries in Dhankawadi when they came into contact of a high tension electrical line.

Various areas in the Pune city have a good number of buildings just below the electrical lines. Incidents occurring every now and then regarding the dangers posed by these lines did not succeed in making either administration responsible or people aware. As per the electricity law, no construction can be made within the 20 meters of the high tension lines. Majority of HT lines in Pune are erected in the 1970s. Since then, the city have grown leaps and bounds, and below these lines too! Neither officials heeded to remove the residents posing danger to their own lives nor did they actually take away the lines from these areas. The HT line where the episode took place yesterday is originally erected as Fursungi-Chinchwad HT line. About 80 houses in Dhankawadi area stand below this line. Ideally, the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Corporation Limited should have stopped these houses being built in the initial stages.

It is not only a question of electrical lines only. It's about other electrical infrastructure also. City's majority of road stand witness to open Double Pole boxes, hinging wires and many other things. About a year ago, it was brought to fore within right to information that the supply of pre-monsoon maintenance material to various circles in Pune zone was far less than the requirement. The information was received in April-May 2008 according to which, only 45 % of total demand was fulfilled for the equipments. Out of 75 items demanded for maintenance, 35 items were not supplied at all where as 6 items that were supplied were only 10 % of the requirement . The items which are not supplied at all include various sizes of LT cable, cable joints, fuse wire, Distribution transformers Ironically, these items were not supplied previous year also. Though last year, only 30 percent of the demand was fulfilled.

As of now, most of the electrical installations are in dilapidated conditions. Not only do these installations flout Indian Electricity Rules, which stipulates proper process of fixing the electrical infrastructure on public places, but they also risk a big hazard to common people. These include incorrect cabling, incorrect connections, installation not gauarded by anyone, providing many connection from one pole, not removing installation which have been abandoned from use.