Officials will be held accountable for electrocution cases, warns Assembly Speaker U. T. Khader

Mangaluru: Karnataka Assembly Speaker U. T. Khader has warned that if electrocution incidents continue, MESCOM officials will be held responsible. He emphasized that officials at all levels, from senior to junior, must perform their duties responsibly.

Khader, who is also the MLA of Mangalore constituency, made these remarks while presiding over a meeting at the MESCOM headquarters in Bejai, Mangalore, on Sunday, discussing monsoon precautions with officials from MESCOM and other departments.

Three people have already lost their lives due to electrocution in the district.

Every official must carry out their responsibilities efficiently. Identifying dangerous locations and taking appropriate measures is essential, Khader said, adding that officials cannot avoid accountability after an accident occurs.

Officials from MESCOM, PWD, NHAI, and the Forest Department must work in coordination. Tasks like removing fallen trees and weak poles should be carried out promptly. Despite advancements in technology, why there is a failure to take preemptive actions, Khader asked.

Transformer Areas Should Be Clean

Khader pointed out that in some states, the surroundings of power transformers are kept clean and beautiful by planting flowering plants. However, in our state, fencing them off has led to people dumping waste in these areas. He called for attention to this issue.

Create Public Awareness: DC

Deputy Commissioner Mullai Muhilan stressed that MESCOM should create public awareness regarding electrical accidents. Awareness should be raised through advertisements and short video clips, educating the public on how to save lives during electrocution incidents.

The meeting was attended by MESCOM MD Padmavathi, Deputy Conservator of Forests Antony Mariappa, and officials from PWD, Forest Department, and KPTCL.

Shortage of Power Men

MESCOM officials informed Khader that there is a 50% shortage of power men in their jurisdiction, affecting operations. Power men from other districts often transfer back to their home districts after a short period, noted MD Padmavathi.

Khader suggested not issuing NOCs to such individuals.

Progress in Underground Power Line Installation

In Mangalore city, an underground cable installation project costing  Rs 76 crores is progressing as a model project in the ADB area. A DPR for Rs 230 crores has been submitted for underground power connectivity in Ullal. The phased implementation of these works is planned, and Khader directed coordination with the Forest and PWD departments for smooth execution.