Hyderabad: Southern Discoms ignoring property loss

Hyderabad: The southern discom has a provision to provide compensation in case of loss of human life due to electrocution and for the loss of cattle, but there is no provision in providing compensation in case of property loss.

Officials said families of two persons who were electrocuted at Habeebnagar and Humayunnagar last month could get compensation. The case of the third person, who died at Dharam Karam Road, is not covered by the discom, as the GHMC was responsible for the electric cabling at the spot.

Officials said the GHMC manages four lakh streetlight poles and high mast lights for which it pays the discom. The discom is responsible for sanctioning the connection, ensuring supply and erecting the poles. The cabling, street lights and their functioning are the responsibility of the GHMC.

The streetlights have to be maintained, but are neglected due to various reasons ranging from manpower shortage to improper insulation of cables, lack of coordination between departments, poor quality in laying cables between poles.

“In addition to these, the negligence while laying cables, without closing open ends or letting cable hang loose from the poles results in the pole coming in contact with electricity,” an official from Southern Power Distribution Company Limited said.

Depending on the incident, the department conducts an inquiry and sanctions compensation, which was increased recently from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 4 lakh. The process takes a fortnight. The money is sanctioned to the family after it produces a legal heir certificate issued by the tahsildar, the FIR copy and the autopsy report from hospital, he said.

There is no provision in the rules to provide compensation in case of property loss. Officials say every precaution should be taken to prevent electrocution and people have to be made aware of safety requirements.