Harshraj Singh
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, April 25
After coming in contact with high-tension wires, three labourers were electrocuted to death in New Punjabi Bagh on Tibba Road in 2018. After this incident, the Municipal Corporation (MC) Commissioner had stated in a report that if the MC’s building inspector and a peon concerned had got the building construction work stopped with responsibility, such incident could have been averted.
A number of persons, including children, have lost their lives after coming in contact with high-tension electricity wires at different locations in the city. The role of the MC and Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) remained under scanner after such incidents as a large number of buildings, including houses and commercial units, have come up under or near these high-voltage wires by violating the norms.
When these buildings were being constructed, the MC took no steps to get the constructions stopped. Even PSPCL later gave electricity connections to these buildings. The questions are also being raised over the role of colonisers or other persons who sold the plots located under the high-tension wires.
The high-tension wires are passing over or near many buildings on Tibba Road, Tajpur Road, Dhandari, Ishwar Colony, Haibowal, Guru Bagh Colony, Baba Mukand Singh Nagar, Daba Road and several other areas. Unaware of the norms, a number of people having low income purchased such plots and got their houses constructed.
Now, these residents live under constant fear due to these wires. They demand from the government to get these wires shifted away from the residential areas to avoid mishaps.
A resident of Dhandari said, “When I had purchased the plot, I was unaware of the law and I had no information that construction can’t take place under the wires. The wires are passing over our house too. Now, I and my family always live under threat since a tragedy happened near our house in the past. We don’t go to the roof of our house due to fear. We are not in the position to get a new house constructed at any other location due to poor financial condition. The government should take steps for shifting of wires away from the houses.”
An AAP leader, Ahbaab Singh Grewal, said, “The MC’s building branch had earlier taken no action to get such constructions stopped. Thousands of houses have been constructed near or under the high-tension wires. Now, these wires should be removed to save the lives of people.”
“Moreover, the responsibility of the officials concerned of the MC and PSPCL should also be fixed so that no such construction comes up under or near the high-tension wires in the future. Also, action should be taken against those officials who had ignored the violations in the past,” he added.
Four persons were electrocuted to death after they came in contact with high-tension power supply wires in Ishwar Colony of Focal Point around three years ago when they were attending a birthday party. Also, a nine-year-old girl had died due to electrocution at Shimlapuri, while another girl had received severe burn injuries.
A resident, Rashpal Singh Gabria, had also raised the matter regarding death of persons due to electrocution before the Punjab State Human Rights Commission and other government authorities concerned. Gabria said, “No lessons have been learnt from the mishaps and no steps have been taken on the ground level to avert such tragedies. Why the MC and PSPCL failed to get constructions stopped under the high-tension wires?”
A PSPCL official said the high-tension wires were installed years ago before the construction of the buildings. As these buildings were constructed later, the MC was supposed to get such constructions stopped, the official said.
Ahead of the last MC polls, residents of some areas had demanded that high-tension wires be shifted away from their houses.
Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu could not be contacted for comments.
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