Electricity poles at builders’ mercy in Kasauli

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, May 3

Reckless digging along the roads by various agencies, including panchayats and private builders, was causing damage to electricity poles in areas of Kasauli where a spurt of construction activity was being witnessed.

A survey of various construction sites by The Tribune led to the revelation of several such sites in the area.

While a majority of the violators dig up around the poles along roads, including the Dharampur-Kasauli, Kasauli-Jagjitnagar ones, etc, those constructing houses along hill sides are also indulging in this activity. Dumping of debris/trash along valleys is also causing harm to electricity poles.

This not only weakens electricity poles, but also leads to severe damage to them whenever there is a heavy rain in the area, thus disrupting power supply for hours. At times builders undertake deliberate digging along poles for vested interests.

Officials of the HP State Electricity Board Limited (HPSEBL) had been imposing penalty on such offenders. As there was no strong provision to check this damage, the officials were helpless.

Superintending Engineer of HPSEBL Dheeraj Mittal said whenever such cases came to the fore they served notice on offenders and recovered damage charges.

He agreed that such cases had come to the fore in Nalagarh, Kumarhatti and some parts of Kasauli where builders were not only served notices, but also directed to pay the cost of restoring electricity lines.

Such activities by builders at times even forced power officials to relocate electricity poles as the existing sites were damaged beyond repair.

With construction activities going on in full swing in every nook and corner of Kasauli, there was an urgent need for the field staff to remain vigilant.