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MESCOM: tangled wires, loose ends put lives on the line

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A person died after he accidently touched a live electrical wire at Melangady at Ullal, Mangalore, on Tuesday June 17th 2014, night. In the incident another person in a bid to save him suffered gruesome injuries. This was at the height of the monsoon.

The monsoon is over. Yet it is scary to walk on some of the roads in Mangalore or live in  some of the buildings that reach up to the height of the electric pole, and there are many.  Live electric wires sway in the wind and are often dangerously close to high rise buildings. They play hide and seek with the branches of trees that line highways and the streets and even homes with a compound.

A resident of Naguri, Nagamma, speaking to Newskarnataka expressed her fears thus: “it is very dangerous to walk on  these roads. MESCOM should check whether the streets are safe to walk or not. Even in many public places one can find trees coming in contact with live wires. Every time we can’t go and complain. If this happens inside a city like Mangalore what about the interior places and outskirts of the city? she asks.

In another example, a shop owner located in a building in the central business district, near the catholic center at Hampankatta, narrated his horrifying experience. The incident, which in his words “gave him the fright of his life”, happened in early December last year, “a power line which hung close to the balcony of the first floor building, attached to an electric pole, sparked and caught fire. The fire almost caught on to the building where crores worth of stocks, most of which are inflammable, are kept. Luckily it went out after occupants joined together to throw buckets of water on it. Soon the fire and MESCOM personnel arrived to set things right”.

The Problem:

In Nanthur, one can find high tension wires touching the branches,  and thereby the compound wall of an educational institution. Even in Naguri, Balmatta, Lalbagh where school children and pedestrians pass by one can find the live wires coming in contact with trees branches.

When contacted, a corporation official, who wished to remain anonymous, said that it is MESCOM’s responsibility to trim trees that are likely to touch the electric lines.  “they must conduct a survey  periodically, especially before the monsoon and plan to do the needful”.

“Public too can help by registering their complaints with MESCOM so that they can focus on those areas”, he added.

In light of this assertion, Newskarnataka spoke to MESCOM Assistant executive engineer of Attavar, Sunil Monteiro, who assured immediate action if such information is received.    Krishnaraj another MESCOM Assistant executive engineer whose jurisdiction is Nanthur and Naguri said, “we can take action only when we receive complaints from the residents. Otherwise how will we come to know about these issue? He, however assured that he would take immediate action wherever there are issues like trees touching power lines.

Measures:

Tree trimming reduces the risk of accidental electrocution, fires caused by electricity, and power interruptions caused by branches touching overhead wires. These are not freak accidents, they are preventable. Trimming also allows for regrowth (based on tree species and environmental conditions), in addition to the minimum safety to the people.

The immediate priority for the authorities though is identification of weak points, over hanging trees tree-cuttings, tightening and changing of wires / cable lines wherever necessary. This can only be done through a thorough survey.

The public too are equally responsible and as good citizens must report such anomalies to the concerned authorities as soon they spot them. This will facilitate life saving action.

 

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