Assam Power Distribution Corporation Limited (APDCL) Guidelines For Puja Pandals
STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: In an effort to negotiate all sorts of impending situations and to ensure safety and security of the devotees during the Durga puja festival, the Kamrup metro Assam Power Distribution Corporation Limited (APDCL) has directed all the puja committees of Guwahati to cooperate and follow the prescribed guidelines for providing temporary electrical connection at their puja pandals.
The organizing committees shall have to give details in writing to the authority concerned in compliance with the Section 54 of the Electricity Act, 2003, mentioning particulars of installation, nature and purpose. MCB/ MCCB/ main switch of adequate capacity to be provided at supply intake point should be at a height not exceeding 1.5 m and should be properly earthed. Outgoing end of the MCB/ MCCB/ main switch, appliances and equipment should be connected to an adequate size of single or three-phase distribution board. Armoured cable of adequate capacity is to be provided for providing connection to puja pandals, gates, structures, etc. Also, all electric power supply circuits are to be adequately protected by using appropriate Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (ELCB). Moreover, competent personnel shall have to be engaged round the clock by the puja committees and equipped with safety devices. The committees must apply for temporary electrical installation before seven days from the commencement of puja. The APDCL, however, has warned that tapped joints shall not be used at a height less than three meters, no puja pandal, structure, gate, etc should be erected near the overhead electric power line, and no contractor without licence from competent authority should be engaged in electrical installation.