Haryana: Now, senior officials to face action for accidents during work on power infrastructure

GURUGRAM: Executive and superintendent engineers will face action if any workers suffer injuries or die in accidents while carrying out repairs on power distribution lines. Earlier, only lower level officials were held accountable for accidents, but now senior-most officials of the division will be held responsible, according to Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN).
Managing director PC Meena said all security protocols should be followed by staffers while working on electricity lines. The lineman who works on live electricity cables should be given all necessary safety equipment and tool kits. The violation of safety protocols, he said, will lead to accidents and loss of lives.
Meena said in case of any fatal or non-fatal accidents, sub-divisional officer (SDO) and junior engineer of the zone will be suspended, and disciplinary action will be taken against them as per the rules. Besides this, show-cause notices will be issued to the executive engineer and superintendent engineer of the division.
“All executive engineers and superintendent engineers have been directed to conduct surprise inspections in their respective areas to check safety arrangements and check whether line men have been provided with safety gear and kits or not and if they are using those,” said Meena.
Accidents at work, he said, have increased and in most cases, it was found that it was caused due to violation of safety protocols such as non-usage of safety kits. “Action will be taken against the officials who are found to be negligent about safety protocols,” Meena said, adding that they are also preparing a short documentary film to create awareness among lineman about safety protocols and importance of safety kits. They will also issue a guideline on dos and don’ts for linemen.
Safety of lineman, he reiterated, would be the responsibility of SDOs and junior engineers.
In July, Sekh Chottu (28), a contractual worker, was electrocuted while trying to dislodge an 11kv cable near the discom’s office on MG Road.
Electricity supply of a line, according to an official, is disconnected for maintenance work but in some instances, the work starts without discontinuing the supply. “According to the protocol, the linemen working electricity cables should wear rubber gloves and rubber boots along with other mandatory safety equipment,” said the official.