Danger in the air

Loose wires

Electrical wires, sagging, swaying and hanging from the poles, are a familiar sight in the City and a serious cause of concern for pedestrians. Recently, as a result of the gusty winds and heavy rains, 160 trees were uprooted in Bengaluru South alone and because of that, 3,370 poles were either damaged or fallen, according to BESCOM.

Residents of Jayanagar and Lingarajpuram point out that although they have been complaining about power interruptions and trees falling on the poles, it took a while for BESCOM to address their concerns. Wires are also seen hanging at Veeranapalya and 14th Cross, Malleswaram. Susila, a home-maker, who lives near Rajajinagar says, “It is very dangerous to have electric wires hanging haphazardly as one can get electrocuted. Children are highly vulnerable as they are unaware of the danger. The authorities should take concrete measures in resolving such situations at the earliest.”

  Susila is not the only one. Nagaraj, an architect, points out that bad infrastructural planning causes such problems. “Untangling the live wires should be a priority for the authorities. Why are live wires tangled in the first place? It is because of poor engineering — of layering in the wires. The price that people will have to pay in case of a mishap is unimaginable. There is inefficiency and irresponsibility when it comes to engineering of City’s infrastructure.”

So what can one do to prevent such threats? YG Murlidharan, the Director of Consumer Rights Education and Awareness Trust, says that there is no permanent solution to this problem.

 “As and when it rains, trees fall on the transformers and get damaged. The wires as such are not bad. It is the trees that fall on them which create a dangerous situation. Authorities should ensure that trees are trimmed regularly and old trees are removed,” he says. Murlidharan points out that electricity poles are used for laying television cables and for BSNL’s internet facilities. “Electricity poles should only be used for electricity wires and not for other purposes.

  Laying underground wires is considered to be safe but it’s an expensive affair, yet BESCOM has installed underground wires in some places. Insulation is convenient and an important factor to ensure safety. Insulation should be done for electrical wires so that they do not come in contact with other wires. Also, the wires need to be laid underground. This can prevent injuries.”

Experts say the citizens also contribute to the problem to a great extent. Some simple measures can be taken by citizens to ensure their safety.    
 
   Shreemaan, a civil engineer, says, “People should not construct buildings very close to the wires. They should see that there is a minimum space of three to four metres from the building. Residents should also take an initiative to get the wires insulated and make sure that the trees do not outgrow.”

G Sheela, General Manager, Quality, Standards and Safety, BESCOM says, “We are trying to take immediate measures as and when we receive a complaint. During rains, trees falls on the poles and damage is caused. There are no faulty poles. If people have complaints, they can call the control room number (1912). We will address the  issue immediately.”