Residents raise concerns over power line cabling along NH-19

Bijendra Ahlawat

Tribune News Service

Palwal, August 16

The laying of over-the-ground power cables along the National Highway 19 between Palwal and Faridabad districts has resulted in a controversy in the wake of the opposition from residential and commercial units located within the prescribed limits near the highway.

Threat of electrocution

Advertisement

With a large number of power cables hanging along the service lane of the highway, the threat of electrocution looms over villages and colonies located near the main road as the height of the overhead cables is very low. — Ajay Chaudhary, Area resident

Complaints and concerns have been raised with the Union Ministry of Surface Transport and Highways against the laying of the cables in a manner that poses a threat to safe and unhurdled commuting, it was reported.

"With a large number of power cables hanging along the service lane of the highway, the threat of electrocution looms over villages and colonies located near the main road as the height of the cables overhead is very low," said Ajay Chaudhary, an entrepreneur here. He said the entrance to some passages of a few colonies and commercial units located near Prithla village had been completely blocked by cables hanging 7 to 8 feet above ground. "These pose a threat to the workers engaged in the work at the site," Chaudhary said.

Claiming that the contractor deployed by the Power Department had been laying the overhead cables to facilitate the supply to the nearby manufacturing units, he said it was illegal as the department concerned had not taken a no objection certificate (NOC) from the authorities like the NHAI and the owners of the land for this work.

Tula Ram, sarpanch of Baghola village, in a complaint lodged with the office of Nitin Gadkari, the Union Transport Minister, alleged that more than 12 high-tension cables bringing the supply from the nearly 66 kV substation had been hung on the poles erected illegally on green belts along the NH for providing supply to private industrial and commercial units in the area. He said while no permission had been taken from departments like the NHAI, the cables had been placed overhead instead of putting these underground.

A similar complaint was raised by the head of the Haryana Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, an educational institution located adjacent to the NH and the village. Dr PN Mishra, principal of the Vidyapeeth, demanded that the authorities concerned should get the power cables laid underground to ensure the safety of students and staff.

VK Joshi, a senior official of the NHAI, said while the concessionaire was keeping a watch of the right of the way (ROW), a report would be sought from officials concerned in this regard.