Chandigarh, March 25:
Punjab Power Minister S. Harbhajan Singh ETO, during the Budget Session at the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on Tuesday, informed that time-to-time instructions are being issued to resolved the problems pertaining to high voltage wires in residential areas.
MLA Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, through a calling attention motion, drew the attention of the government towards the problems being faced by the residents due to 132 KV high voltage wires passing through the areas of Musalfabad, Tungbala, Indira Colony, Rishi Vihar, Nagina Avenue, Professor Colony, Akash Avenue, Suraj Avenue and Chand Avenue.
Along with this, MLA Mr. Labh Singh Ugoke also drew attention towards the loss of life and property occurring daily due to high voltage wires passing over the houses in the villages of the state.
Giving information in this regard, Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO said that 132 KV Power Colony Civil Line and 132 KV Power Colony – Verka high voltage transmission lines of Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited passes through Musalfabad, Tungbala, Indira Colony, Rishi Vihar, Nagina Avenue, Professor Colony, Akash Avenue, Suraj Avenue, Chand Avenue area, where people have illegally constructed buildings near or below these two 132 KV lines. Punjab State Power Corporation Limited/Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited does not lay power lines in residential areas, he said, while adding that however, construction under power lines is prohibited unless all safety rules are followed.
He said that despite this, some residents violate safety rules and carry out illegal constructions. In cases where potential hazards are identified, proper safety measures are being implemented, and notices are being issued to illegal builders who violate safety rules.
He said that Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited has issued public interest notice through newspapers from time to time to the people living in the areas, where illegal constructions have been constructed below these high voltage lines, appealing them to immediately remove the illegal structures built near and below these lines.
As per Regulation 65 of Central Electricity Authority (CEA) (Measures relating to Safety and Electricity Supply) 2023 and Regulation 11.1 to 11.5 of Supply Code-2014 approved by Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission, shifting or removal of high voltage lines is done at the request of consumers/applicants and the actual cost has to be deposited by the applicant to Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited. Hence, Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited cannot shift these lines at its own cost.
Harbhajan Singh ETO informed that Punjab State Power Corporation Limited has issued instructions vide Commercial Circular No. 49/2019 dated 05-09-2019 to keep the charges for shifting of 11 kV and LT lines to the minimum and to encourage more and more applicants to shift the lines out of their premises. Supervision charges on labour @ 15%, cost of extras and incidental charges @ 4%, storage charges @ 1.5%, contingency charges @ 1%, audit and account charges @ 1%, T&P charges @ 1.5% and Chief Electrical Inspector’s fee are not recovered from the applicant.
