Wednesday, Feb 09, 2005
Wednesday, Feb 09, 2005 |
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Bangalore
By Our Staff Reporter
BANGALORE, FEB. 8. A day after a heavy electricity pole fell and killed five-year-old Vasu, Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) has suspended its area (Krishnarajapuram) engineer. BESCOM says it will pay Vasu's parents "whatever compensation that is payable as per the rules." According to the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission, the company has to pay Rs. 1 lakh compensation in cases where it is found to be negligent. Sources in BESCOM told The Hindu that the area engineer, Malakappa Hunsikatti, had been suspended. However, action would not be taken against the contractor, Nissar Electricals, they said. "The contractor was only carrying out orders, he cannot be blamed. On the other hand, the area engineer is the one who is supposed to supervise the work, get a line clear for that area and so on. He should have noticed the deteriorated condition of the electricity pole," they pointed out. "Once a charge is framed against the engineer, he will be given time to reply. Only then will BESCOM institute a departmental inquiry into the incident. We have a panel of retired judges to conduct such inquiries. One of them will be asked to head the investigation," the sources said.
`Mechanical accident'
The office of the Chief Electrical Inspector to the Government has no role to play in this as this is a "mechanical accident" and not an electrical one. BESCOM has, in the past, often been faulted for not making its linemen and gangmen follow safety precautions. Many of its over 2,000 linemen in the city are often found clambering up electricity poles without the requisite gloves, safety belts or boots. BESCOM officials insist that the company issues the requisite material but many linemen/gangmen are overconfident and regard such precautions with disdain. "So far, we have trained 1,000 linemen on safety measures," the officials add.
Compensation
For the victims' families, getting compensation is often a long drawn out affair. According to the energy regulator, investigations into cases of electrocution routinely stretch to between 45 days and 60 days. It takes even longer for the victims' families to get the money.
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