Goemkarponn Desk
VASCO: Tension flared up in Baina after several residents confronted electricity department workers over an outage for over 6 hours, which was caused after some miscreants set ablaze some ‘underground’ power cables, which were in fact exposed in the open.
The fire at the power cables was first noticed by locals at Tariwada-Baina at about 6.30 pm. The fire station and police were alerted and a fire tender extinguished the fire.
On account of the fire, power supply was disrupted to entire Baina and surrounding areas. While the electricity department was quick to restore power supply to areas in Bogda through alternative options, Baina continued to be without power supply till Thursday midnight.
With the fire and the subsequent power outage, people rushed to the site and were shocked to find out that power cables, which should have been underground were, in fact, exposed in the open.
A large number of people confronted the electricity staff over the underground cables which lying in the open without any protection, even as the staff were at work to repair the damaged underground cable and restore power supply.
Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) Vice Chairperson Ramchandra Kamat also rushed to the site and later met electricity department officials.
“It is unfortunate that parts of Baina are facing a blackout due to a fire by some miscreants. Police must increase patrolling in this area to find out who set the fire and secondly it is shocking that the underground cables which supposed to be under the ground are lying in the open. The electricity department must ensure that 33 KVA cables are not placed precariously in the open because it can endanger humans and animals as well,” said Kamat.
Safety consultant and social worker Suresh Naik questioned the government over the completion certificate issued to the contractor who had taken the underground cabling work.
“It is sad that people have had to face a blackout due to shoddy work taken up here and it was only after the fire incident that people realised that the underground cables are lying out in the open.”
“The Government claims that the underground cabling work has been completed while the cables are lying out in the open. How can anyone give a completion certificate to any contractor who has left the underground cables on the road and claimed that the works are completed,” asked Naik.
“The government and the electricity department must review all areas where underground cabling has been completed and check if such cables are actually placed in the open. These 33 KVA cables are dangerous to humans and animals,” said Naik.
“The electricity department are saying that they are working on the issues but there is no guarantee that power can be restored in Baina and other areas in quick time.”
