Rid city of this entangled mess, say residents

Hanging wires are a common site across the city, but shopkeepers and households take this matter for granted inconsiderate about the fact that they are vulnerable to mishaps. Whenever a new market or colony evolves, new connections are laid without detangling the previous ones. The MC should set up a central organised switch board with proper wire sockets and extra connections in every 2-3 km. Illegal connections should be rooted out to lessen the burden.

Manmeet Kaur

MC must find a solution

Dangling wires are one of the major problems facing the city. These wires put several lives in jeopardy as every time someone passes by from near from these wires, they have to be extremely careful. Residents are suffering, especially those commuting on two-wheelers. Even government is not taking care of it. It is the responsibility of the MC to find solution to residents’ problems. They only do something when a lot of damage is done and a mishap takes place. The authorities have to come forward and solve the problem. They should at least put some signboards so that people are aware about it even from a distance.

Surekha Mahajan, Ludhiana

Government must take appropriate measures

The electricity wires dangling in every locality pose a danger to the lives of the residents. The authorities concerned should keep a check on the problem. Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) must take the action regarding complaints in this regard. Responsibility for solving the complaint must be given to efficient officers. Proper steps must be taken for the well being of the residents and society. Proper measures must be taken by the government authorities.

Manpriya Kaur 

Wire breakages must be fixed on time 

The dangling cables and wires have become a familiar sight in Ludhiana. The situation has become a serious cause of concern as it poses a threat to life. The loose wires snap from poles, creating hazardous situations for the residents.  With the wires dangling here and there, even rescue officials find it difficult to reach the spot when there are any fire incidents and ambulances find it difficult to pave their way. Any breakages or wire deterioration should be addressed immediately. The electricity poles should only be used for electricity wires and not for the other purposes. Respective councilors and the Municipal Corporation should be held responsible for any mishaps. Broken electricity poles should be given red sign so that accidents can be averted. Regular monitoring is the need of the hour. Public should note down the problem areas and bring it to the notice of the Municipal Corporation.

Dr Jasdeep Kaur

Noose on erring officials should be tightened

Proactive measures, underground wire ducts will fix the problem. In spite of knowing the fact that dangling high-tension wires has become a serious cause of concern, Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) seems to have turned a blind eye to this menace. With cluttered electrical wires on zinc-coated rooftops and frequent sparks from loose cables, grave danger is indisputably hanging in the air. People who live and do business close to the cluttered wires have been paying heavily for the ignorance or lackadaisical attitude of the PSPCL. Property worth billions has been lost to infernos erupting from electric circuits. Houses of residents often develop cracks in walls due to cables intertwined haphazardly at inner parts of the city. The PSPCL must know that wires often snap from poles or transformers. Cases of two-wheelers entangling with broken wires are continue to increase. Besides this, loosely hanging wires sometimes can also come in contact with the heavy vehicles. Dangling cables often hamper the movement of fire engines delaying rescue operations. The danger doubles during the rainy season, particularly for children who are not aware of the need for precautions near electricity cables and wires. Experts say the associated risks range from electric shock to psychological damage, burns, neurological damage and ventricular fibrillation, can lead to death. Birds are zapped when they touch two lines at the same time or one line and the grounded electricity pole that supports it. Apart from the issue of hanging electricity wires, city residents are being forced to live a risk-filled life due to the apathy of the PSPCL. The company should take proactive measures to resolve such issues that could lead to the loss of lives. The Ministry of Power should fund a project ‘No entangled wires in the city’ wherein wires dangling over houses and shops at various parts of the city should be fixed at underground ducts. Legislation should tighten the noose around erroneous staff and workers in the department. At last, if no reforms can be witness by government, steps should be taken to privatise the work. 

RAVI CHANDER GARG, Ludhiana

Structural changes needed in govt depts

Most of the government-run companies are either winding up or facing huge losses, power distribution is in the hands of government employees and their performance is visible on every electricity pole. A small gush of wind leads to power cut and wires hang so low that any animal or human can get electrocuted. The government servants lack sensitivity due to secure jobs. Unless we bring structural changes in the government departments, nothing will change. Private companies manage things better.

Major Gurdeep S Samra (Retd)

Transformers should be shifted to safer locations

There are a large number of sites in the city where dangling power cables can be seen in abundance. Unconnected or loose transformer wires at low height from the road surface, especially loaded with heavy transformers are continuously posing threat to several lives in different areas of the city. In many parts of the city, one may easily observe that pedestrians and bikers are commonly seen protecting themselves from dangling wires. Several mishaps have taken place due to this faulty set up. Many complaints have already been lodged to the authorities concerned to remove such dangling wires immediately to avoid any tragedy, but to no avail. Situation is highly dangerous in several old parts of the city where anyone can observe vendors/rehriwalas beneath or near transformers; even children are playing near the transformers. There are houses in different wards in the city where electric wires pass from nearby or over the houses. Already, numerous cases of electrocutions have occurred in the city, but the authorities concerned have apparently turned a blind eye to the problem. No action has been taken to shift high tension cables which frighten residents. Transformers located along houses should be shifted to open spaces and authorities should take immediate steps to repair loose wires. The department concerned should conduct a survey and ensure shifting of dangerous power poles. The state government should direct the officials to frequently visit places to check such poles and transformers and arrange to shift them. All electric wires should be covered underground which is necessary to make the city “Smart”.

Kuldip Singh Kreet

Install latest equipment

The problem could not be solved until the installation of latest transformers and underground wiring is given preference, as natural calamities usually lead to the falling of trees and poles over the wires. The mess created with wires spread across the city will not only weaken the supply of electricity but pose a threat to residents’ lives. 

Samridhi hans

Ward-wise panels should be formed 

To provide basic amenities such as roads, sewerage, water and electricity is the duty of the Municipal Corporation. If we talk about electricity, the situation is dismal. In each nook and corner, one may find exposed and dangling wires which may pose a serious threat to the lives of residents. The civic body has failed to ensure their maintenance. The MC spends crores of rupees on the maintenance of streetlights but there is no check on the work done by contractors who have the responsibility to look after these wires and non-functioning of street lights. There may be various steps which the Municipal Corporation may take to ensure the proper functioning and maintenance of streetlights and dangling wires. First, all electricity wires and cable wires must be underground and responsibility must be fixed on the councilor of respective areas to keep and check the proper record of maintenance and problems of dangling wires. Contractors should also be held responsible if the problem of dangling wires persist. The Municipal Corporation should form a panel ward-wise to check and report to the electricity department if any problem of dangling wires exists and special attention should be given during the monsoon season to the uncovered live electric wires hanging from electricity poles. However, authorities seem to be in deep slumber and waiting for a tragedy to occur. Uncovered wire joints should be covered to avoid any accident as these are open invitation to untoward incidents. Some electric poles which are in the middle of the roads or passage and other low-lying electric wires must be removed to avoid any accident. The electricity department should come forward to put all electricity wires underground and all cable operators should be issued an instruction to put cables underground or their licences be terminated. It should be done in a phased manner and ward-wise so that proper and risk-free electricity service can be provided to all residents. Residents should lend their support to the authorities in maintaining the electric wires.

Dr Mohd Saleem Farooqui

Residents should lodge complaints with the MC

Electric wires hanging from electric poles are not only posing serious threats to residents and commuters but are also an ugly sight. The authorities should work for solving this problem. Being responsible citizens, we should know our rights and how to use them. Residents should lodge complaints with the MC so that the higher-ups take effective steps. 

Kalpna Maurya

Onus lies on the PSPCL

Dangling electricity wires in the city, especially the old city, pose a big danger to the life of the residents. The situation prevails exclusively due to the negligence of the Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd (PSPCL). Therefore, the sole responsibility for fixing the problem lies on the PSPCL. After giving electricity connection to the residents or for streetlight, PSPCL workers leave the wires hither and thither, which results in wires dangling around the poles. However, general public is also partly responsible. After getting the electricity issues are fixed, people let the PSPCL workers go without fixing the wires properly. This problem must be fixed at the earliest. The PSPCL must instruct its workers to fix the wires properly in their area of

operation in a fixed time and if not done, workers must be punished as per the rules. Sometime ago, there was a move to put all electricity wires underground, but there has been not much success. Also such a programme is a costly operation.”

Dr G Dev