Public money goes down drain
By Rajmeet Singh
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, Sept 13 — Public money amounting to lakhs of rupees spent by the Public Health Department to solve problem of flooding in low-lying areas of Sector 65 (Phase XII) appears to have gone down the drain.

Even after the laying of an additional storm water line, residents continue to suffer as even light showers result in flooding of their houses and it takes hours for the water to recede.

Enraged at being taken for a ride by the government agency, which was supposed to rectify the problem with the new storm water line, the residents demand an investigation into the case. They lament that the problem persisted as the design of the storm water line was faulty.

One of the most populated and oldest sectors in the township, this low-lying area has been facing the problem of flooding as the storm water of Sectors 63 (Phase 9) and 64 ( Phase 10) also flows towards Sector 65 due to natural gradient. A storm water line laid by the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority in the early 80s had failed to solve the problem.

After the sectors were handed over to the Municipal Council, about two years ago, the municipal councillors of the area highlighted the problem at different levels to lay an additional storm water line to prevent flooding in pocket C, comprising MIG and LIG houses of Sector 65. The problem was discussed at a meeting held in 1998 by the then Deputy Commissioner, Ropar, at Government Senior Secondary School in Sector 60 ( Phase 3B-1).

A Municipal Councillor of the area, Mr Sukhminder Singh Barnala, says that the work of laying an additional storm water line(near block no. 1411/ 12) was given to the Public Health Department about one-and-a half-years ago.

A visit to the area revealed that the additional storm water line, which had to be laid from block no. 1411/ 11 was instead laid from block no. 1411 /12. Further, the outlet of the additional storm water line, about 1 km long was opened into an existing storm water chamber instead of constructing a separate chamber before being thrown in an open nullah near Commando Complex.

What is more alarming is an alleged faulty design of the new line, which Mr Barnala says, had been given an upward slope instead of a downward one. Demanding an enquiry in to the design, he says he would write in this regard to the Deputy Director of the Local Government Department, Public Health Department and the Executive Officer of the council.

He says the Executive Engineer had visited the site and knew about the problem. Mr H.M. Sharma, who lives near block no. 1411/12, says, "Three days back, a light shower had resulted in 3-foot water on roads. We cannot move out till the water recedes".

No steps to check electrocution
by Prabhjot Singh
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 13 — An unprecedented spurt in incidents of electrocution in the city — five in 50 days — notwithstanding, a little has been done to prevent any further such tragedy.

Starting with the electrocution of a bull on July 20 in Kajheri village where the owner of the bullock-cart had a providential escape, the subsequent four incidents have claimed five human lives, including two children of a labour colony here. The latest incident took place last week in the Sector 25 Kumhar Colony where 18-year-old Pappu was electrocuted.

Interestingly, after the electrocution of two children, a six-year-old boy and a two-year-old girl, in Ram Darbar here on August 8, the Adviser to the Administrator, Mrs Vineeta Rai, had ordered an inquiry into the incident. Mr O.N. Malik, Executive Engineer in the Electrical Circle, was asked to conduct the inquiry and submit his report within a week. But even after five weeks, he is yet to submit his report. A junior engineer of the area was placed under suspension.

Contrary to provisions of law — the Indian Electricity Act,1910 and the Indian Electricity Rules, 1956 — no inquiry has been ordered in the remaining electrocution incidents. These incidents include electrocution of a rickshaw-puller in Kishengarh village on August 11, electrocution of a labourer in Sector 31 on August 27 and electrocution of pappu in Sector 25 on September 9.

Section 44-A of the Indian Electricity Rules, 1956, provide for intimation of accidents to the board or supplier of electricity to the area. It reads: "If any accident occurs in connection with the generation, transmission, supply or use of energy in or in connection with, any part of the electric supply lines or other works of any person and the accident results in or is likely to have resulted in loss of human or animal life or in any injury to a human being or an animal, such person or any authorised person of the state electricity board or supplier, not below the rank of a junior engineer or equivalent shall send to the inspector a telegraphic report in the form set out in the rules within 48 hours of the knowledge of the occurrence of fatal and all other accidents. Where practicable a telephonic message should also be given to the inspector immediately the accident comes to the knowledge of the authorised officer of the state electricity board or supplier or other person concerned. Here the inspector stands for the electrical inspector appointed under section 36 of the Act. In the case of the Union territory of Chandigarh, the electrical inspector is Superintending Engineer, Electricity Operations.

Under rule 46 of the Indian electricity Rules, 1956, all installations connected to a supply system shall be periodically inspected and tested at intervals not exceeding five years by the inspector or any officer appointed to assist the inspector or by the supplier as may be directed by the state government or the authorities concened. But both these Rules are seldom followed and enforced.

The Indian Electricity Act, 1910, also has stringent provisions in this regard. Section 33 provides for notice of accidents and inquiries. It also requires information about a fatal accident to be passed on to the electrical inspector and to such other authorities as the appropriate government may be general or special order, direct.

It further says that the appropriate government may, if it thinks fit, require any (electrical inspector) or any other competent person appointed by it in this behalf to enquire and report:

(a) as to the cause of any accident affecting the safety of the public which may have been occasioned by or in connection with the generation, transmission, supply or use of energy, or

(b) as to the manner in, and extent to, which the provisions of this Act or of any licence or rules thereunder, so far as those provisions affect the safety of any person, have been complied with.

"Every electrical inspector or other person holding an inquiry under sub-section (2) shall have all the powers of a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, for the purpose of enforcing the attendance of witnesses and compelling the production of documents and material objects, and every person required by an electrical inspector or such other person as aforesaid to furnish any information shall be deemed to be legally bound to do so without the meaning of Section 176 of the Indian Penal Code.

In spite of these express provisions, the inquiry officer in the Ram Darbar children's electrocution case, for example, has reportedly been unable to call the witnesses and others connected with the case. In all other cases, probably no information was sent to the electrical inspector as required or no inquiry was initiated in all these five cases leading to fatalities.

A dangerous leaning pole
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, Sept 13 — A leaning electricity pole with dangling wires hangs like the sword of Damocles over the heads of residents living in its vicinity in Sector 7 here. With little being done by the authorities concerned to prop it up, the residents are worried of the consequences if it falls.

The pole started leaning about five years back, says Ms Neeru Singla, who stays in the house where the pole stands. "We are constantly in the 'line of fire', especially during the monsoon season when sparking from the pole is aggravated. Earlier, we would be on the edge every time sparks flew, but with the passage of time, we have got used to it and now hardly ever give them a thought.''

They have not lodged any complaint in this regard.

Her neighbour, Mr A.C. Arora, however, claims to have registered a couple of complaints with HUDA but to no avail. "We are living in constant danger and nobody seems to be bothered. Once somebody from the Electricity Department had come in the vicinity and I had spoken to him about the pole but no action was taken. Last year, the pole 'dipped' further after a guest house opened in the front row and the load of wires on the pole increased manifold. Most of the residents, however, chose to remain silent and the situation is worsening,'' he adds.

At the guest house, Mr K. Sethi says: "There is no convention of trying to avert a mishap where it is possible and only something drastic will awaken the officials.''

Mr Arjun Kumar, a resident of a house in front of the pole, says: "We have spoken to a few officials concerned at the personal level and have been advised to approach the higher authorities for action.

Meanwhile, parking is a major problem. But with little option, most people continue to park their vehicles close to the pole in spite of the imminent danger.''

However, the matter has not been brought to the notice of the residents welfare association of the sector.