Responding to queries about the safety of linesmen who have been carrying out restoration work post the cyclone, Power Minister Nilesh Cabral and the Electricity Department insisted that all works were carried out taking care of the safety of the linesmen.
Linesmen too stated that they have been provided with safety kits such as helmets, gloves, special type of shoes and goggles, torches and other necessary requirement. They, however, stated that there is a shortage of ladders.
When linesmen were asked if more needs to be done to protect them, they said the government should consider providing additional benefits to them and their families given the risks they face while carrying out such work. They referred to insurance in case of accidents.
The linesmen also blamed the section of the public for not allowing them to cut trees and branches that touch overhead lines, which would have reduced the kind of damage caused during the cyclone or even heavy rains.
Addressing media persons on Friday, the Power Minister said care was taken to ensure that the linesmen and staff are not harmed while carrying out work and that some of the delays were caused as they needed to ascertain if it was safe to do the repair works. They added that only a few staff had suffered minor injuries and that they followed up with such cases completely to see that the said workers recover and get the necessary medical attention.
