FRIDAY, MAY 03, 2024
Team Herald
BICHOLIM: In yet another grave and shocking incident an electricity department lineman lost his life after he was electrocuted while working on an electricity pole at Housing Board, Bicholim.
The accident occurred due to a sudden power surge, while he was working, even as it is claimed that the power supply to the high tension line was switched off. The deceased Manoj Zambaulikar was a resident of Pilgao.
The death of the lineman has sent shockwaves in Bicholim. The alarming number of deaths of linemen in Goa for the last five years has put the spotlight on safety of lineman.
It is reported that five linemen have died tragic deaths due to electrocution in the year 2023. The government has been accused of giving lip service to safety of linesmen and a nominal compensation to the family of the deceased each time. Time and again there have been demands to make the high tension powerline repairs safe for the linemen, but apparently nothing has changed. Hurt by the death of the young lineman, people vented out their anger at Valshi, Bicholim.
A huge agitated crowd shouted wrestled with the police. One villager lamented, “He was a youth of 34 years, younger than me. He was more educated than me. We have lost a villager.”
Congress North Goa MP candidate Adv Ramakant Khalap said he was shocked & saddened to hear about the unfortunate death of Goa Electricity Department lineman Manoj Zambaulikar due to electrocution while on duty.
He claimed, “Almost 71 humans and 30 animals have died of electrocution between the years 2019 to 2024. Are you saddened by the death of the linesman? You may give compensation but does the Power Minister Ramkrishna ‘Sudin’ Dhavalikar not have to resign now, by taking moral responsibility for the death of the linesman?”
"Dhavalikar had informed the Goa Legislative Assembly that Goa Government had spent Rs 12,000 crore on upgradation of Power Transmission and Distribution System in Goa in the last five years. Even after spending such a huge amount of money, deaths due to electrocution continue and people face power crisis,” Adv Ramakant Khalap pointed out.
The South Goa Congress MP Candidate Capt Viriato Fernandes also expressed shock and sadness due to the death of lineman due to electrocution while on duty.
Alleging that the BJP government has completely ignored on safety measures for the staff on duty and public, I.N.D.I.A Bloc South Goa candidate Captain Viriato Fernandes demanded resignation of the Power Minister pertaining to death of Zambaulikar due to electrocution while on duty.
He said that the Power Minister Sudin Dhavalikar should resign immediately. "Power Minister Sudin Dhavlikar has no right to continue as Power Minister of Goa. He has failed to provide safety and security to his own department staff. I condemn his act of
negligence," said Capt Viriato.
He further said that the Government has spent almost 12 thousand crore on maintenance and improvisation of the power distribution system in Goa in the last 5 years. But the amount has gone into the coffers of the Power Minister and BJP functionaries. Hence Goans are continuously facing power disruptions.
Activists and concerned citizens of Goa have said that the Government is least bothered about the plight of the common and the marginalized men in the state.
Activist Xencor Polgi said, “The government is to blame for the death of the linesman. Also the department and the senior officers are to be blamed. How did the current come on and how did the linesman die? The government has to answer this. The power minister is not bothered.”
Sanjay Barde asked, “Does the department not know about what safety measures and training has to be given to linesmen? You know how to make BJP strong, you don’t have money to protect the tax payer.”
While the incident has triggered widespread anger, the Electricity Department has initiated an inquiry into the matter. Executive Engineer Vallabh Samant said that it will take some time for exact fault finding as this was a planned repair and this couldn’t have happened.
Chief Electrical Engineer Stephen Fernandes said that after the mishap, a team of four senior officials were sent to the site to find its cause. Before undertaking the work the linesman had switched off the supply from both sides and discharge rod was used.
“The accident occurred due to reverse supply from the inverter of the Fitness Factory. The company was using an inverter but that connection of the inverter was not proper. This happens because the switch is broken, disconnected or not repaired which can lead to surge of the supply backwards,” he said.
The supply was off but there was a supply of 220 volt in neutral wire. Because of the inverter supply the mishap occurred. When someone installs a generator, they have to seek approval from the Electricity Department.
“We put a condition that there must be a switch so that the power supply does not come to our line. But people install inverters and nobody comes to take permission from the Electricity Department. It is the responsibility and duty of the consumer to have a proper connection of the inverter. Power supply from the inverter should not come to our line. In the present case, our neutral was used and there was no earthing,” Fernandes said.
Fernandes denied that the Electricity Department had compromised with safety. “We have instructions to give safety tools to everybody,” he said.
Fernandes also refuted Khalap’s allegations that the department was allocated Rs 12,000 crore.
“The Electricity Department never spent Rs 12,000 crore. Our last budget was Rs 4,200 crore. Out of that major expenditure was on purchasing power from the centre. Rs 2000 to Rs 2200 crore is spent on purchasing power, Rs 700 crore goes for salary. So hardly we are left with 600 crore which goes on capital expenditure and maintenance
Fernandes further clarified that from January 1, 2019, only 14 linesmen died while on duty including electrocution and job on compassionate ground has been given to those families who applied.
Meanwhile, the Electricity Department has disconnected the power supply to the Fitness Factory and further action will be initiated after a proper inquiry.
