Indian Express 16.11.2009
Underground cabling system needed
It is reported that MSEDCL’s underground cabling project in Pune is in jeopardy because of very high road digging charges demanded by the PMC.
Presently major power distribution network in Pune is of the overhead line type where poles are erected at road side on footpaths and electric lines are strung on it.
There are several disadvantages with the system, some of the prominent ones being:
1) Poles located at road side or on footpaths cause hindrance to pedestrian movement.
2) Poles can get charged with electricity during rainy season with danger of electric shock for pedestrians
3) Power lines running on the poles can snap during storms or due to fault and fall down to the ground. Anyone coming in contact with the line will get electrocuted.
4) There could be short circuit faults on the lines due to birds or tree branches and consequent power failures
5) Trees at the road side need to be extensively and regularly pruned to keep the tree branches clear of the electric lines
6) In case of road widening, the entire overhead line needs to be shifted.
It has to be noted that if it is not done in advance, poles remain on the carriageway of road hindering vehicle movement and causing accidents.
7) The poles and criss-crossing lines present an ugly picture.
Due to such reasons, the overhead line system is no more preferred for urban power distribution networks. Instead underground cabling system is now the standard practice as it does not have any of the above drawbacks and limitations
Apart from being a clean hidden system, it gives a far superior performance in terms of safety, efficiency, reliability and flexibility.
Not only should this system be used for new installations, but it makes sense that existing overhead lines also be replaced by underground cabling.
To facilitate cable laying without road digging, all new roads or widened roads should necessarily have usable underground cable ducts of proper design to allow cable laying in future and also maintenance. There should also be cable ducts or pipes laid across roads for connectivity.
The cable duct design and network should be planned and executed specifically as per MSEDC's requirements.
In line with modern trends, MSEDC has embarked upon an ambitious program of upgradation and strengthening of power supply network in the city by laying underground cables and establishing sub-stations.
However the project has now been stalled as MSEDC is finding that PMC's road digging charges are very high It is more than three times the underground cabling cost, making the project unviable.
It would be a grave folly to shelve the project for this reason and go back to the old outdated overhead line system which would become a permanent disability for the city.
It need hardly be emphasized that a reliable and efficient power distribution infrastructure is of vital importance for the growing city and any deficiency in this regard would have a long term crippling effect.
As such there simply cannot be any compromise in the matter.
In view of the above factors and k eeping the larger picture of the city's future needs in mind, it is imperative that the the Pune Municipal Corporation should urgently work out a reasonable road digging cost to be charged to MSEDC which would make the underground cabling project viable.
In the long term interests of the city, the Pune Municipal Corporation should also make it a policy that henceforth overhead lines will not be allowed in the city and only underground cabling system should be adopted.
Prashant inamdar,Convenor, Pedestrians First
