Lack of Guardnetting in ET Lines Threatens Life, Property
Abrar A. Mattoo
SRINAGAR, Aug 12: The drooping live transmission lines from electric poles have claimed countless lives in Kashmir, yet it appears that there is a safety practice called the guard netting that the power development corporation of Jammu and Kashmir has completely ignored in letter and in spirit. The adherence to this safety practice would have saved countless lives in Jammu and Kashmir that were lost in vain.
The most recent case of loss of life and injury from a fallen live electric transmission wire was reported on 12 June 2021 from the Raiyar area of Budgam’s Khansahab. In the incident, one person lost his life instantly and the other three individuals suffered critical burn injuries. There are thousands of more cases where dropping wires have claimed countless lives in Jammu and Kashmir, especially in rural areas where the transmission lines have mostly served their age, and where, given to less population density and rough terrain, the upkeep and maintenance of electric transmission lines are largely ignored.
Surprisingly, the electric transmission line that killed the man and injured other three in Raiyar Khansahab was only a 440 KV transmission line. Therefore naturally, the threat posed to life and property by 11000 and 33000 KV transmission lines in Jammu and Kashmir can only be imagined.
“When I imagine the danger that all of us are living in, I find myself in fear. We have a river of death looming over our head and nobody forces the authorities to light upon this issue,” commented Aijaz Ahmad, a Junior Electric Engineer in JKPDCL (Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Corporation Limited) while talking to Kashmir Despatch.
Guarding netting (A cross laced wire mesh) is installed below transmission lines, and since the guard netting is properly earthed, when the conductor line breaks, it falls on the netting and prevents short-circuit and hazard to life. Anything, from the slightest gust of wind to light snow, threatens the power cuts and loss of life in Jammu and Kashmir.
It’s important to note here, throughout the world, guard netting is a mandatory safety rule followed in the transmission of all sorts of overhead electric lines, including, in the terrifying 33000 KV transmission line. However, in Jammu and Kashmir, this safety requirement is a rare sight, even in the 33000 kV overhead transmission line, which is grave concern on its own. At countless places in Jammu and Kashmir, civilian houses have come up under the 33000 KV transmission lines and the people living in those houses are in direct and immediate danger.
When Kashmir Despatch spoke with Chief Engineer, JKPDCL, Aijaz Ahmad Dar, said that though guard netting is mandatory at road crossings and other recommended places in transmission lines, due to various constraints, the corporation has not been able to abide by the said safety rule, “Nevertheless, through various centrally sponsored schemes, we are trying to speed up development and address all the pertaining issues and grievances. All sorts of issues are on the table, and in the timebound period, the issue of guard netting would be also solved”.
However, it remains to be seen whether the corporation would give precedence to human lives and address all the safety matters in a time-bound manner, including the urgent issue of laying guard nets under the electric transmission lines.
