They Came, They Cut, They Left! Ignorance of Mescom Workers Leaves a Mess Behind
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 roadside or on the footpath, and the mess lies there for days and weeks- until someone call and complaints to MCC.
Forget about monsoon time, but a few days ago Mescom along with their sub contractor had taken up the restoration of power wires in the Kadri Pumpwell area, on Kadri Road near to natural Ice Cream, Mangaluru. There were a bunch of men all geared up for their whole day job in the power lines restoration work, and the whole area was out of power for the day, from around 8.30 am until 6 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.
Not only these workers left behind a big mess, they even cut the phone/TV cable wires while installing their power lines. A slight carefulness by these Mescom workers could have prevented these BSNL and TV Cable wires from being cut, but they went according to their ways, not even caring about the inconveniences faced by the residents. For the whole day and until the next day, residents in that area had no land line connection nor cable TV to watch. 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. True or false, I am yet to clarify on that point.
But whatever be the case, leaving behind a biog mess of pruned tree branches or for that matter, broken utility wires is not the right thing to do-it is totally a 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. But it has been already three days, that the pruned branches are still lying there, some even getting dried up. God only knows when the MCC will clear the mess.
And sometimes Mescom members without any prior information and permission enter residents property illegally to prune trees grown inside the house compound. 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 a 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; 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 5ft) and most importantly, CLEAR THE PRUNED BRANCHES AND LEAVES FULLY. Thank You!