Tangedo removes wooden pole supporting low-lying electrical lines in Tiruvannamalai

Tangedco officials have removed a wooden pole and a few pieces of small wooden planks that supported low-lying electrical lines near the newly opened ₹35-crore bus terminus in Kilpennathur town in Tiruvannamalai on Saturday after a public outcry over safety. The video of the wooden plank and pole with electrical lines went viral on social media. Commuters said that the wooden pole was erected near the entrance of the bus terminus several days ago to prevent snapping of electrical wires on the stretch due to strong winds. “Live electrical wires balancing on the support of wooden planks and the pole poses a risk to people on the route,” said B. Sumathi,a commuter. Tangedco officials said that a private contractor, who was engaged for work in the terminus by the local body, had illegally erected the wooden pole and planks on the low-lying electrical lines to prevent power disruption. After the incident went viral on social media on Saturday, Tangedco officials inspected the spot and removed the wooden pole. “Live electrical wires supported on a wooden pole are also risky if the wood gets wet. It could result in an electrical short circuit and endanger human lives. Necessary action will be taken against the contractor for illegally installing it,” S. Krishnan, Divisional Engineer (DE), Tangedco (Tiruvannamalai, told The Hindu. Tangedco officials said that local staff noticed the fault many weeks ago. However, they were unable to re-route the electrical lines with eight electrical poles due to the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) for Tamil Nadu Assembly polls and Board Examinations for school students. “The electrical lines, which run up to a distance of 500 metres, provide power supply to households near the terminus. The entire re-routing of the electrical lines will be done immediately,” Mr. Krishnan said.