TURA: The Meghalaya Power department which has often been in the news for all the wrong reasons has once again found itself in deep waters with the West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner issuing a notice to the CEO of the Meghalaya Power Distribution Corporation Limited, Western Zone, Tura, for criminal negligence resulting in the electrocution of a five-year-old boy at Chasingre near Tura.
“It is disheartening to note that even after several months of the unfortunate incident where a five-year-old boy got electrocuted due to an unsecured MePDCL transformer, there appears to be no headway in processing compensation to the victim for the loss of limbs and severe injury,” the DC’s order read.
According to an inquiry conducted by Extra Assistant Commissioner, T.K. Sangma following the incident it was found that the goat proof channeling fencing around the transformer as well as a portion of its gate had been left unsecured since six months and was fenced only after the incident.
Shockingly, the order also revealed that incorrect information was brazenly communicated to the Deputy Commissioner in a review meeting in January claiming that the fencing had been in place and that the victim had climbed over it.
While the Deputy Commissioner on his own initiative has reportedly raised an amount of Rs 1,41,000 by way of donations from social organizations, NGOs and civil societies and another Rs 50,000 provided to the father of the victim from the resources of the office, there was however no assurance from the MePDCL to his intimation letter to consider the compensation.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner has also informed that Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma had been irked by the lack of commitment from the MePDCL about the compensation and has ordered a magisterial inquiry while also recommending punishment to the guilty.
According to the DC the Civil Society Women’s Organization (CSWO) has also threatened to file an FIR against the MePDCL if it continues to remain insensitive on the compensation issue.
The Deputy Commissioner, at the same time, has sent an official request to the concerned department to arrange compensation for the victim for current and advanced treatment failing which he warned that he would be forced to initiate actions against the erring officials of the MePDCL named in the FIR lodged by the CSWO.