ITV

Tag: BESCOM

  • Cable stringing deadline unrealistic: Karnataka MSOs

    Cable stringing deadline unrealistic: Karnataka MSOs

    BANGALORE: With the one-month time given to MSOs to implement design guidelines issued by the Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation (KPTC) about to expire, the Multi System Operators (MSO) argue that it would be impossible to adhere to the guidelines in the given timeframe and against the present set up.

    “The KTPC’s design for stringing up of cables cannot be implemented at such a short notice. It’s too fancy and such standards should have been laid down at the initial stage itself,” opined an MSO.

    “In many cases their low tension (LT) lines are too low, maintaining the clearances between the power lines and the cable wires and the cable wires and the ground would be impossible. The guidelines indicate that the cable wire must be at least 10 feet (3.05 meters) from the ground and at least 4 feet (1.2 meters) below LT wires; many of their LT wires are at only 10 feet from the ground. Also in many case, there is no room between the LT wires and the walls or other abutments to string the cables almost 7 feet (2 meters) from the pole,” the MSO added.

    KTPC general manager (Technical) vide his circular dated 21 July has laid down guidelines for laying of OFC/co-axial cables on distribution network after the sad incident which claimed seven-year-old Anish’s life on 12 July when he came in contact with a loosely hanging ‘live’ cable wire.

    Copies of the circular with guidelines with drawing and a checklist have reportedly been sent to a number of persons at all ESCOMs. The action taken for implementation of the circular guidelines and its execution will have to be furnished to the GM (Technical), KPTCL within 30 days of the issue of the circular.

    Some of the guidelines in the circular specify the size of the messenger wire as 3.15 mm, 45 kg/sq. mm class GI wire, stating that cable tapping should not be done at the poles, but at-least 2 meters away from the poles. The minimum ground clearances have been specified as 5.8 metres across road and 3.05 metres along road. The communication/ TV cable wires should not run above power lines, they must always be below power lines. The clearance between the power line and messenger/cable wire has been specified as 1.8 metres when run under an 11KV line and 1.2 metres when run under a LT line.

    In a separate development, Bangalore Electric Supply Company (Bescom) has re-iterated it’s threat to cut illegal cable wires from 19 August onwards. MSOs such as ICE1 and ICE2, among others, would be effected the most as per industry sources.

    The Bescom had given cable operators time till 16 August to come up with proposals to help streamline the drawing of cables in the city. If the cable operators did not contact Bescom by 16 August Bescom would be forced to remove all illegally drawn cables and would not be responsible for any inconvenience caused to the public or to the illegal cable operators.

  • Bangalore cable tragedy: Officials unclear about third probe

    Bangalore cable tragedy: Officials unclear about third probe

    BANGALORE: Karnataka government officials are of the opinion that another inquiry report to probe the circumstances that led to a seven-year old boy’s death is not required, as per media reports.Earlier, Bangalore Electric Supply Company (Bescom) and the chief electrical inspector to the government (CEIG) had submitted their inquiry reports.

    On 15 July, Karnataka chief minister Dharam Singh is purported to have ordered a third probe when he visited the boy’s house. According to authorities, it is unclear whether or not he meant another inquiry by principal secretary Ranganath.

    As reported earlier, Bescom had initiated a cable cutting frenzy holding a wrongly strung cable TV wire responsible for the tragic event. A compete blackout of TV by the cable operators was averted with CM’s intervention. 

    A preliminary inquiry initiated by Bescom’s chief engineer (CE) had found BCC responsible for the tragedy, along with the concerned Bescom staff.

    Ranganath had obtained the details of the two investigations and a report from the Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation (KPTC). Action has been initiated against the four Bescom persons named – an assistant executive engineer, engineer, a junior engineer and a linesman, all of whom have been suspended and are facing an inquiry.

    According to reports, 20 August has been fixed as the deadline to complete the comprehensive review of all hazardous cables. Ranganath is to hand over the KPTC’s report to the CM early next week, based on which the CM is expected to pass orders.

  • Bangalore cable tragedy: CEIG report finds fault with Bescom

    BANGALORE: As the search for a scapegoat for the Bangalore cable tragedy continues, Bangalore Electric Supply Company (Bescom) has found itself at the receiving end yet again. An inquiry report by the chief electrical inspector to the government (CEIG) has placed the blame squarely on Bescom.
     

    The inquiry report of the CEIG primarily blames negligence on the part of Bescom for the tragedy that took seven-year-old city boy Anish’s life last week when he came in contact with a loosely hanging ‘Live’ wire on his way back from an errand. It says, “Bescom cannot shirk its responsibility of monitoring safety of cables. This is acute negligence. BCC was partially responsible for the incident and like most cases this pole too did not have a proper fuse or switch. There was a loose connection and the joint too was left open.”

    The report holds Bescom responsible for looking into the safety aspect of the cable operators and MSOs’ cables, since they were paying the company. “If Bescom had checked the open joint and taped it, this accident would not have happened,” it says.

    The investigation revealed the un-insulated part of the streetlight cable touched the messenger wire supporting the TV cable wires causing the accident.” The origin of the wire couldn’t be determined as it was cut in several places, hence the question remains unanswered whether it was a TV cable or internet cable wire. The police are still looking into the matter.

    The first inquiry conducted by the Bescom had found both the company staff and the Bangalore City Corporation (BCC) responsible for the mishap.

    Reacting to the inquiry report that put the blame on BCC, executive engineer east zone C Sivanna is quoted in media reports as saying, “It is no fault of BCC. The distribution box installed by the local cable network had come in contact with a live Bescom wire. And a wire had fallen down from its bearing and the boy unfortunately came in contact it. Streetlights are switched on only during the evenings. How can we be blamed when the street lights were off when the incident occurred?”

  • Inquiry into Bangalore cable tragedy indicts BCC, Bescom staff

    BANGALORE: The blame game continues in the aftermath of the Bangalore cable tragedy. The latest episode has Bangalore City Corporation (BCC) finding itself in a tough spot as a preliminary inquiry initiated by Bescom’s chief engineer (CE) found it responsible for the tragedy, along with the concerned Bescom staff.

    On 20 July, the day the Karnataka chief minister N Dharam Singh gave some reprieve to the operators by asking Bescom to stop cutting cables, BCC had its shot at the cable operators by giving three days to cable operators to remove illegal cables using streetlights. Now the Bescom (state government run power utility Bangalore Electric Supply Company) inquiry report has put both in the dock.

    The report indicts both BCC and Bescom’s jurisdictional junior engineer/s (JE) for the mishap, which resulted in seven-year-old city boy Anish’s death due to electrocution when he came in contact with a loose hanging wire while on an errand. The report is believed to have laid the blame on the incorrect insulation methods by BCC.

    The inquiry report suggests that the insulated wires should be run through PVC pipes instead of the present arrangement. It says the insulation of the wire has worn out at the intersection of metal wire and insulated street light cable due to friction and wind, resulting in leakage of wire from the street light cable to the metal wire. This resulted in some arcing, which was reported to the Bescom.

    The concerned JE shut down supply to the wire from one transformer and cut the metal wire to test. He tested one half (the left side as per reports) and found that there was no leakage of current. He didn’t check the other end, which was powered by another transformer. This live wire and the attached cable wire fell on the ground, which resulted in the electrocution. In his report, the chief engineer has recommended the concerned JE’s dismissal.

    The CE report suggests that the insulated street light cable be run through a PVC pipe so that there is no chance of power leakage at any point.

    BCC commissioner K Jothiramalingam refused to comment saying he has to see the report first. He added that, in a meeting between the chief minister and Bescom it was decided that BCC would convert 3000 electric switches on street-lights to solar powered switches.

    The Karnataka State Cable TV Association spokesperson Ponnacha, meanwhile, said all the effected cable operators are considering legal action for redress and recovery of damages, but they may take a call after a meeting of cable operators on the matter. Reports from the other two inquiries — including the one by the chief electrical inspector to the government — are awaited.

    A memorandum similar to the one given by the cable operators to Bescom will be submitted to BCC. The cable operators are willing to make changes or adopt new measures suggested by BCC.

  • Bangalore cable ops meet CM; state-wide blackout averted

    BANGALORE: The impasse between the cable operators and the Karnataka state government run power utility Bangalore Electric Supply Company (Bescom) seems to have broken, at least for the present. It finally took a brief meeting late Saturday evening with chief minister N Dharam Singh to break the ice.

     

    The CM has agreed to hear out the cable operators’ grievances in a more extensive meeting tomorrow. As things stand, the dispute, which yesterday threatened to blow up and engulf the entire state with a blanking out of all cable TV screens has had a cooling off, at least for now.

    Irate cable operators had threatened to go on a state wide strike if Bescom did not stop indiscriminate cable cutting, the orders for which were issued following the death last Monday of 7-year-old city boy Anish when he came in contact with a loosely hanging live wire. Cable operators in a rare show of unity had gone on strike following the action by Bescom and had blanked TV screens across Bangalore since Thursday.

    A failed meeting on Friday with power minister HD Revanna did nothing to soothe the angry cable operators, who resorted to slogan shouting when Revanna abruptly terminiated the meeting.

    A spokesman from the Zee Network, meanwhile has informed that the Civil Court at Bangalore has passed an ex-parte injunction preventing Bescom from cutting/dismantling/removing cables of Zee Interactive Multi-Media Ltd. The next hearing is scheduled for 2 August.

    During a telecom, Jagdish of The Karnataka Cable TV Chambers of Commerce said most MSO’s had obtained stay orders against Bescom restraining it from cutting cables. According to Jagdish, all MSO’s had restarted transmission, but normalcy may be possible only after all the ‘cut’ cables are restored.