MCC should take Action & Fine MESCOM for Dirtying the City with Trimmed Tree Branches, which are getting ROTTEN due to rain, and giving scope for mosquitoes to breed, and spread Malaria and Dengue, and that too during the time of Pandemic. If authorities of Mangaluru City Corporation can take action against and impose fines on residents for dirtying the Cit, why not then, take action on MESCOM also for their ignorance?
Mangaluru : It usually happens prior to the start of monsoons, when the Mangaluru Electricity Supply Company (Mescom) workers start pruning trees to prevent damage to power lines in case of heavy rain and gusty winds. While this is a routine exercise, what stands out is the lack of coordination between Mescom and the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC). Because once they are done pruning/cutting of tree branches, they leave the cut branches on the road side or on the footpath, and the mess lies there for days and weeks- until someone calls and complaints to MCC. But in the meantime, the tree branches are either rotten or dried up, creating more garbage. Is this how Mescom works-I only hope the newly appointed Mescom Managing Director Mrs Snehal Rayamane will read this report and do the needful in future.
Forget about the arrival of monsoon time, but this morning, 27 April, from 9 am until around 2 pm, Mescom workers along with one of their Junior Engineer were engaged in pruning tree branches along the stretch of from Bunts Hostel-Kadri Road, Mallikatta towards Bendore, and while these bunch of men all geared up for their job, left the whole area out of power between 9 am till 2 pm. I am okay with that, but I am not okay with all the mess these workers out of ignorance leave behind once their job is done. They don’t have the slightest courtesy to see that the citizens don’t face any inconveniences or safety hazard due to their negligence. Many a times the pruned branches affect clearance of pavements- and no one cares about it.
A slight carefulness by these Mescom workers could have prevented all this mess from happening- but it has been that way since ages, and no one wants to correct themselves. Oh well, this is Mangaluru and Mescom! True or false, not quite sure, but as per rules it is learnt that Mescom has to take permission from MCC before pruning trees. However, Mescom officials pointed out that line clearance is their responsibility. “We have been empowered by the government to prune branches ahead of monsoon or anytime there is a obstruction of branches near power lines. We do not need to take any permission from the MCC,” an Mescom official said. I am yet to clarify on that point.
But why would anyone start trimming/cutting branches when rains have started, why couldn’t they do it during dry summer months. But whatever be the case, leaving behind a big mess of pruned tree branches, is totally act of ignorance and carelessness. Another outcome of the lack of coordination is that cut branches are dumped on pavements. The civic body takes a long time to clear them, which inconveniences pedestrians. “If we know where the pruning exercise is being carried out, we can depute extra personnel to that area to clear the cut branches,” a senior MCC official said when contacted. The best way to avoid all this litter of branches, is that Mescom should coordinate with MCC, and when they carry on with their pruning job, they should request MCC to provide a garbage truck, so that the cut branches are dumped right into the truck, rather than on streets or pavements.
Don’t you think it’s a smart idea from Yours Truly of Team Mangalorean, even though we have Smart People working in MCC and Mangaluru Smart City Limited (MSCL). Now that the branches were cut during the last few days across the City by linemen, they will lie at a corner of the street, or on the pavement for days, some may even get dried up and rot in heavy rains- and God only knows when the MCC will clear the mess, left behind by Mescom men. And sometimes Mescom members without any prior information and permission enter residents property illegally to prune trees grown inside the house compound.
Sources reveal that, As per rules, they are allowed to cut branches that are within 5 ft distance to electric cables. But, they do not have any measuring instruments to ensure minimal pruning. Many times trees are butchered and branches hacked that are 10- 15 ft away. I think Mescom needs to follow a policy of informing owners prior to cutting their trees; also getting permission from home-owners or MCC prior to pruning trees; and have equipment that only prune and cut what is allowed by law (max of 5 ft) and most importantly, CLEAR THE PRUNED BRANCHES AND LEAVES COMPLETELY. Thank You!
ELECTRIFYING NEWS YOU MAY GET A ‘SHOCK’ ?
During a recent ‘Meet The Press’ programme, the Managing Director of MESCOM Mrs Snehal Rayamane briefing the journos said, “Despite monsoon being normal, Mangaluru Electricity Supply Company Limited (MESCOM) suffered rain-related losses to the tune of Rs 12.31 crore. Much of the losses were incurred due to damages in transformers and cutting of power cables in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Chikamagaluru and Shivamogga districts. In the previous year , Mescom’s rain-related losses was over Rs 33.61 crore. As the focus was on restoring power at the earliest, nearly 850 monsoon gang-men and 50 vehicles had been engaged this time”.
“Undeterred by rains and Coronavirus, the gang men work at restoring power wherever it has been disrupted. The fully staffed customer care centre receives 300 to 400 calls. Many among the calls are related to disconnection of power, and there will be fewer delays as the decision -making was decentralized. The complaints o0n electricity bill being high also has been resolved. The power consumed was 1.5 crore units per day and the revenue was Rs 330 crore per month. The consumption of units by the industries which had dipped during the lockdown had increased to 75 percent with the relaxation of lockdown. 33 KV gas-insulated Sub-Stations were being planned in Mangaluru, Bantwal, Udayavar and Kota in Udupi district at a total cost of Rs 38 Crore. A user friendly App on the lines of : Bescom Mithra”, which will help customers know about their consumption of units, will be a reality within six months.” added Mrs Snehal Rayamane. Chief Engineer Manjappa and Mescom Director (Technical) Mrs Padmavathy were also present during the occasion.
