In Bangalore, watch out for killer wires at every step

Bangalore: Power corrupts. It is true both physically and figuratively. Nothing else explains the callousness with which government power companies go about their business. Absolute power of government monopoly in power supply, in most parts of the country, has resulted in absolute corruption which leads to danger to life and limb of the general public.  

Since power supply is inefficient, there is corruption at every stage in the process of accessing supplies. But what is surprising is the cavalier fashion in which Bescom deals with the safety aspects. They seem to value human life at a few lakhs or thousands of rupees, depending on the social status and political clout of the families of those whose lives are lost.

The case of an electric pole falling on a pregnant woman is too fresh to be forgotten. But bureaucrats treat with disdain media reports of official negligence and complaints from public.   
DNA recently carried two articles on the utter lack of safety consciousness among the authorities. One related to poor safety standards at a site where public work is going on and the other focused on how they are hand in glove with transporters who ignore safety norms while loading goods into trucks.

No less is the danger  electricity companies cause to unwary public. The question one prominent citizen asked recently was 'What is the use of complaining to the one who is the cause for the complaint?'  

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It is not that the law is inadequate to deal with such acts of commission and omission. The problem is that the lawmakers and law enforcers are the law-breakers.  

The Indian Electricity Rules 1956 on safety norms are elaborate. Yet, almost every rule is observed only in its breach. All electric installations provide proof of violations of safety rules.

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Wires hang from trees. Transformers are installed on footpaths, disregarding rules on how and where they should be situated. One finds live wires lying on the street.  At festivals, electrical safety is forgotten.

A couple of years back, at a religious festival, a person was electrocuted when the victim came in contact with a live wire laid temporarily in violation of rules. There was some clamour in newspapers but soon the incident was forgotten.

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'Pandals'  raised during most festivals violate all safety norms. There is a law against stringing TV cable on trees. Yet, such cabling is seen everywhere. Only, the regulators and inspectors are blind to the danger. Perhaps, their 'inspection' trips are only 'collection' trips for mamool or bakshish.

Taking illegal power connection is too common and the Bescom has admitted that. What causes more harm than the economic loss is the safety risk involved. Such connections are allowed by a corrupt machinery.

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Why are those guilty of such gross neglect not charged with culpable homicide? Until a death occurs, one cannot be charged with culpable homicide. Would such neglect come under the definition of an attempt to commit the offence?

IPC's definition of culpable homicide in section 299 includes a clause, which runs thus: "Whoever causes death... with the knowledge that he/she is likely to cause death, commits the offence of culpable homicide".

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The actions of the electricity authorities and officials are with prior knowledge. Should they be punished only after a death has occurred? Many Bescom transformers stand the "in public way". Perhaps, those responsible could be charged under section 283, "Danger...  in public way" or section 287, "Whoever does any act rashly or negligently as to endanger human life..."  

Some of these transformers are so badly installed that they are as dangerous as a terrorist bomb placed in a public place.

These two writers have filed objections to the tariff hike proposal of Bescom. Our objections were based on the ground that Bescom cannot pass on their inefficiencies to their captive customers. Yet, it is certain that Bescom would simply go ahead with the increase. Is this not what any monopolist would do?

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