Disaster waiting to strike
By Our Reporter
Shillong: In what seems to be a total lack of coordination, the MeECL has constructed a high tension electricity tower near the pipe-laying site of Phase III of the Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme (GSWSS), putting at stake the life and security of people in the area and even in Shillong city.
Accusing the Meghalaya Electricity Corporation Limited (MeECL) of acting on its own, the Public Health Engineering (PHE) department said, “Despite knowing the fact that the pipe lines designed for Phase III of the project were to pass through the specific location at Mawphlang, the MeECL went ahead with the construction of a 1,32,000 volt electricity tower near the same location.
“The MeECL should have consulted with us before constructing the high tension tower,” PHE Additional Chief Engineer (ACE) SK Sunn told reporters here on Friday.
Sunn mentioned that a high tension tower located at the site may prove to be dangerous in an area where already two big pipelines of Phase I and II have been laid and laying of the third pipes lines is in progress.
Explaining a worst case scenario, Sunn said if lightning strikes in this area, then the electrical current from the tower will be discharged into the ground where the pipe lines are located and as water is known to be a good conductor of electricity, it will definitely carry the current all through to the treatment plants which in turn links pipe lines directly to every household. “This can be a highly dangerous situation for people and the operators as well. We fear that if this happens, every body will be electrocuted,” Sunn added.
Sunn informed the PHE department had dispatched a letter to the MeECL last month requesting them to find an alternative site for the construction of the tower and also forwarded a copy to the East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner.
“We are still awaiting a response,” he added.
The PHE official also mentioned about the presence of another electricity tower in the vicinity. “A 33,000 volt electricity tower already exists nearby but somehow we have managed to prevent any accident,” Sunn said.
Meanwhile, PHE Minister Shitlang Pale has said that the issue has to be dealt with properly as both electricity and water are equally important for the people.
“I will take up the matter with the Government so that a solution may be found out,” Pale added.