Due to the deplorable condition of electricity supply service, as many as 1,621 persons and 1,048 animals were killed in 2,398 electricity-related accidents in the State from the year of 2005-06 under the jurisdiction of the four electricity distribution companies, said the National Institute of Indian labour (NIIl) sources.
The institute also said that 777 persons were physically disabled due to the accidents among which the number of electricians is the highest. During last month only, six workers under the Central Electricity Supply Utility of Odisha (CESU) were killed due to mishaps.
Though electrical inspectors are appointed to investigate into the accident cases, only 148 cases out of the total 2,398 cases were probed in the eight long years. The State Government and the companies are avoiding such issues by terming the deaths as natural disaster. “The Government’s carelessness towards death of hundreds of people due to electricity-related accidents is unfortunate,” said NIIl secretary Ramesh Chandra Satpathy.
Satpathy said that due to the callousness of the State and electricity distribution companies, the electricity poles and wires have not been changed over the period of 40 to 45 years. Though the number of consumers is increasing day by day, the companies or the State are not willing to spend money for modernisation of the facilities.
He said the Government is collecting around Rs 550 crore per year from the consumers as electric duty but has not taken any step to provide better facilities for them. For maintenance, repair and upgradation of equipments used in electricity supply, around Rs 10,000 crore is needed, while the State is sitting idle after declaring a sum of Rs 2,400 crore in 2010 for the purpose, he alleged.
Satpathy said that around 33 lakh consumers under three electricity distribution companies under the Reliance Energy are facing electricity-related accidents, but the companies don’t take any steps to dolve the problems.