------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Documented by Goa Desc Resource Centre Ph:2252660 Website: www.goadesc.org Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Press Clippings on the web: http://www.goadesc.org/mem/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------- Electrocution incident opens pandora's box --------------------------------------------------------------- Last week's electrocution incident involving two NMR workers, has thrown up more than one question, even as one of the young worker, Dilip Gaonkar was rushed to KLE hospital, Belgaum in a last-ditched effort to save his right hand from being amputed.
Can a NMR worker be permitted to work on an electric line when a regular linesmen is around? In the normal course, the answer is "No", says Chief Engineer T H Rao, while speaking to Herald. He, however, declined to comment further saying a detailed report is awaited from the superintending engineer.
This question is haunting power officials here since the Benaulim sub-station did have regular linemen and its a mystery why the two NMR workers were ordered to do the job.
On the fateful last Thursday afternoon, Dilip Gaonkar, in his 20's along with Sandeep Kurdikar were directed to climb on a 33 KV line at Fatrade after a shut down. Five to ten minutes later, the duo came crashing down from the dead line, with their hands burnt on account of electrocution.
Another query posed by the electricity department staff is on the very safety of linesmen, whether NMR or regular. The incident has proved that one cannot rule out 'external sources' of supply as put it by executive engineer, Peter Fernandes, given that large number of power generating sets are in use in both residential and commercial units."The Fatrade incident should be an eye opener for the department higher-ups. Certainly, the linesmen deserve better protective gears to protect their life and limbs", a staffer said.
Department staff has also expressed concerns over the social security of for NMR workers. No doubt, the duo were offered ex-gratia payment of Rs 25,000 and Rs 10,000 each, but is there any rehabilitation schemes for partial or permanent disablement for NMR workers? "Personally, I feel the duo should be rehabilitated", the Chief engineer said.
Inquiries by Herald revealed that despite the shut down, the 33 KV line did receive power supply for about a minute, which ultimately proved costly for the two NMR workers.
While the department described this mysterious power supply as "reverse current", the police says it will investigated into all angles, including any lapses during the shut down. Around nine hotels dotting Varca has generating sets and the Power officials are right now zeroing in on them in a bid to unravel the mystery.
A middle-rung electricity official told Herald that data obtained from the electronic meters installed in these hotels, reveal that the dead line did have power supply for a minute. "How and from which hotel this supply came is being currently probed", said another official.
The shut down was taken to allow the department to install an electronic meter in one of the starred hotel. The incident occurred soon after the two NMR workers removed the jumpers.
Meanwhile, the power department today has replied to the Colva police that its concerned Junior engineer and the wireless operator would be made available for inquiry as and when required. ------------------------------------- HERALD 1/10/03 page 4 ------------------------------------
======================================= GOA DESC RESOURCE CENTRE Documentation + Education + Solidarity 11 Liberty Apts., Feira Alta, Mapusa, Goa 403 507 Tel: 2252660 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] website: www.goadesc.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Working On Issues Of Development & Democracy =======================================
##########################################################################
# Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts #
# More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others #
##########################################################################