The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Building bylaw violation poses threat to electrical safety

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 22, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Building bylaw violation poses threat to electrical safety

B. S. Satish Kumar

Bangalore: Among the several banes caused by violation of civic bylaws, perhaps the most pernicious one pertains to that of electrical safety norms, especially in some of the crowded residential areas of Bangalore.

Sources in the Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) point out that non-compliance with the building bylaws is one of the main reasons for the electricity-related accidents as portions of such unauthorised constructions would be dangerously close to power lines. As per the norms, a minimum distance has to be maintained between the power line and the buildings.

The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike too has a role in ensuring the electrical safety. Its role is mainly concerned with ensuring that the building bylaws are strictly followed.

“The corruption in BBMP is to be blamed for such violations, especially allowing construction of buildings dangerously close to power lines. The owners of the buildings violate building bylaws, but tenants face the impact as it is their electricity-related safety that is (compromised),” observed a former chief of an ESCOM (electricity supply company).

Stringent measures

The Indian Electricity Rules 1956 prescribed stringent safety measures to be followed with respect to various electricity installations. This includes the distance to be maintained from the high tension and low tension power lines from the buildings, depending on their location.

In addition to this, the National Electricity Code and the Karnataka Electricity Grid Code 2005 deal with the safety aspects related to various kinds of installations such as agriculture, residential, industrial and on. All the five ESCOMs in the State too have their own safety manuals.

The rules specify that a minimum distance starting from 1.2 metres has to be maintained from the building for power lines. The distance increases as the capacity of power lines increases.

An exclusive body — Chief Electricity Inspectorate to Government (CEIG) — has been constituted in Karnataka to look into the safety aspects. Of course, the ESCOMs and the Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) have a major role in regularly monitoring the safety issues while the BBMP too has specific responsibilities related to electricity safety aspects.

In case of an electricity-related accident, the ESCOM concerned should inform the CEIG within 24 hours of the incident. The CEIG conducts an inquiry and files a report to the Government indicating if the power supply utility is responsible for the incident. The CEIG is supposed to file the report within 15 to 30 days.

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