Assam: Use of Bamboo Poles and Beetle Nut Trees as Electric Poles Poses Major Risks

TAMULPUR: The usage of items like bamboo poles and beetle nut trees as poles for carrying electrical main lines has been a major concern in parts of the Tamulpur district of Assam. Such poles may be damaged by natural processes, and lead to possible incidents of electrocution.

The residents of the Mahendra Nagar locality of Guwabari in the Tamulpur District of the state have raised questions regarding the usage of such items. They also pointed out the usage of rotten quality of such items being used by the power department in the region. They mentioned that the high-voltage wires being carried by such low-quality materials pose an immense risk to the people of the village.

The villagers also complained that the poles had been erected in a very irresponsible manner and some of such damaged poles are next to the main road of the village and within the hands reach of the children. Even a transformer has been placed by the department at an arms’ length from the main road. Mentioning that the process of using such materials is nothing new in the region, the villagers called on the authorities to take proper action to prevent any possible mishaps.

Meanwhile, a project is underway for the insulation of all bare conductors of power lines above elephant corridors in the state is underway to prevent the death of elephants through electrocution. The target length of such power lines is 326 km in as many as 19 locations in the state, with an estimated cost of Rs 110 crore. According to APDCL sources, elephant corridors, including those in Kaziranga, Manas, Pobitora, Golaghat, Tezpur, North Lakhimpur, etc.—almost all the vulnerable wildlife corridors as demarcated by the Forest Department—were converted to insulated cables under different schemes like SOPD, RDSS, etc.

Also Read: Cable insulation underway to prevent electrocution of jumbos

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