All transformers can't be shifted from footpaths, Bescom tells HC

The Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) on Tuesday submitted before the Karnataka High Court that it cannot shift over 8,000 transformers from City footpaths.

In a public interest litigation filed by G R Mohan, a City-based advocate, the Bescom has filed an affidavit stating that not all the 8,811 transformers in Bangalore Metropolitan Area Zone (BMAZ) on footpath can be shifted. However, it has said that 1,084 transformers had been identified for shifting from the footpaths and the request to replace them had been submitted to Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike and Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission.

The affidavit, signed by B K Udaykumar, Chief Engineer, (Electricity), Bescom, states that of these 1,084 transformers 550 can be shifted to government or civic amenity sites; 217 shifted to existing distribution transformer centres in government civic amenities sites; 32 to metro or flyover medians and 276 transformers can be shifted on self execution transformers with enhancement.

Bescom has said that transformers will be shifted based on availability of land and network feasibility.

“If place is not available at load centres, transformers will be placed extending the network from the load centre,” the affidavit says.

Stating that Bescom has taken safety measures on all transformers installed, the affidavit says that there has been only one accident related to transformer in South Circle.

Mentioning that the group operating switches (GOS) used by electrical engineers for maintenance work were obstructions to the pedestrians, the affidavit says, “transformers on footpath with GOS causing obstructions have been identified and 60,000 contracts have been entered into to modify the same. The GOS have been redesigned to be cut off seven feet from the ground level so that there is no obstruction to pedestrians.”

The affidavit says that the density of transformers in BBMP area depends on load requirement and number of consumers. The density is one transformer for 205 people in BMAZ area.

“There is no guideline or established practice for calculating the density of transformers as the density can vary depending upon the area and density of population," it says.

The division bench comprising acting Chief Justice S K Mukherjee and Justice Ram Mohan Reddy adjourned the matter.
DH News Service