PSPCL inefficiency in service comes to fore; installed a transformer in a public place without any protection
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in
Punjab state power corporation limited is known for serving the residents in thick and thin, in every tough situation. But, sometime they do the opposite.
One negligent working example of PSPCL comes to fore. This Sunday-Monday night, they shifted the existing power transformer installed backside of AC Market, Adalat Bazar, Patiala to a new space inside the car parking of AC Market, in a haphazard way.
They installed the transformer at a low level, just around 2-3 feet’s above the ground level, even started it without installing any precautionary wire mesh and kept open from all four sides. Means, it has extended an open invitation for passersby to have an experience of electric shock, electrocution in this rainy day. They started the transformer without making any mandatory safety enclosure.
As per rules transformers must be guarded where exposed to physical damage or avoiding the physical contact with human beings. For safety, the transformer enclosure must be completely guard all energized components or warning signs, or visible markings for general public.
Even the powercom engineers failed the get install the transformer as per rules. “When planning the installation, the location is selected, that does not interfere with the normal movement of personnel, equipment, and material” said a powercom engineer.
They installed the transformer in the parking area which is a common passage for the commuters coming for shopping in the Adalat Bazar, AC Market. They overlooked and threatened the personal safety of the residents.
When contacted a powercom officer, on the condition of anonymity he said “this whole exercise of shifting of transformer, lying of cable etc was done in few hours, due to some political pressure. Powercom engineers working on this project had standing instructions to complete the entire project in few hours. Even the JCB machine in use was brought from another route, due to wiring issue.”
When contacted the PSPCL executive engineer, west division, Er Tiwana in whose the area falls said “ the earlier place , where transformer was kept was a private place. The consumer now wants to shift this 500 Kv transformer, so an estimate was made for shifting. The concerned SDO and JE has selected this spot and the required fee of shifting transformer of Rs 4.00 lacs was deposited by the consumer, who wants the shifting of the transformer. The estimate falls under SE level officer preview and after doing the ground work, it was passed.”
When questioned the executive engineer why they had chosen a much happening place- car parking for installing a transformer, when another two transformers are already installed at just a stone throw (away) location, he said “it”s a 500 Kv transformer and it is placed at a height of 2-3 feets only. Moreover, the distance is a bit longer and that will affect the power supply to other places.
PSPCL inefficiency in service comes to fore; installed a transformer in a public place without any protection. The executive engineer has not satisfactorily answered the question why they did all this in haphazardly manner? Why they kept the transformer immediately on the concrete bed made for it? Why they had chosen a happening place for shifting the transformer, overlooking the safety of a common man?
“As per unconfirmed reports and rumors in the market, a close aide of sitting MLA of the ruling party has done all this. The earlier location was a property of the MC. He might have purchased that location from MC at a throw away price. Even the MLA was in touch with officers when they were shifting the transformer. The close aide of the MLA is going to commercially use that place where the transformer was kept, in future” said a local journalist.
October 11,2022
