Dangling electricity wires pose threat to commuters

Ajay Joshi

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, December 11

Days after a demolition drive at the famous ‘Tikki Wala Chowk’ in the Rainak Bazaar, the authorities are yet to find a solution to the perilously suspended power cables from a high-voltage transformer here. Situated exactly in the centre of the chowk, the transformer connecting several electrical lines in the market was reportedly the prime reason for razing a number of shops here.

Mayor Jagdish Raja had earlier claimed that, “In order to avoid any mishap due to open electrical connections and suspended cables, the Municipal Corporation (MC) had received a direction from the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the district electricity department to remove all the shops in the vicinity of the transformer”. Moreover, immediate action was sought to repair the broken or suspended electricity cables.

A spark in these wires could take a shape of major fire accident in the congested market area. Taking cognizance of the recent fire incidents, the fire department officials had also pointed out that unevenly arranged wires have put the lives of locals in danger. Sources revealed that many of the cable wires have also been placed illegally.

Avtar Singh, a shopkeeper, said these dangling wires were an invitation to disasters. The authorities were aware of the danger but have turned a blind eye to the problem, he said. Local residents demanded the authorities to take effective measures and rectify the problem to prevent any untoward incident.

Rainak Bazzar Market Association president Munish Mahendru stated that they had taken up the matter with the local authorities including the Mayor and waiting for immediate actions. Another member of the market association Sandeep said, some of the vendors whose shops were removed by the MC team, have again erected their carts at the chowk, causing unnecessary hindrance to the traffic.

The High Court has also reportedly ruled that preventing the sagging of electricity wires and electrocution was the responsibility of the authorities concerned and that failure to do so would amount to negligence.

Harjinder Singh Bansal, Deputy Chief Engineer PSPCL, Jalandhar circle, stated that all the electrical connections in the Rainak Bazaar have been included in the Smart City Project and the old wires would be replaced with new high-quality wires.