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Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
Pune civic body snaps 79 illegal connections from road light poles
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), on Friday, launched a citywide drive to disconnect illegal electricity connections drawn from streetlight poles and disconnected as many as 79 illegal connections in a single day. The action was taken after an eight-year-old girl reportedly came in contact with a hoarding illegally connected to a PMC-maintained streetlight pole and died on June 2. The Sinhgad Road ward office topped the list with 15 illegal power connections removed, followed by Ahmednagar Road (13), Kothrud-Bavdhan (9), Kondhwa Yevalewadi (8), Warje Karve Nagar (7), Hadapsar (7), Dhole Patil Road (4), Aundh-Baner (2), Ghole road (2), Dhankawadi Sahakarnagar (2), Bhavani Peth (4), Bibvewadi (4), Wanwowrie-Ramtekadi (1) and Kasba-Vashrambaug (1). These connections are often used by roadside vendors, unauthorized dwellings, political banners—and most controversially, by illuminated publicity hoardings across the city, said officials. Manisha Shekatkar, chief superintendent engineer of PMC's electrical department, said, 'The 'I Love' hoardings put up at many traffic junctions as part of city beautification are now being checked for illegal electricity use. 'We have received several complaints that these hoardings are tapping electricity illegally from nearby street poles without any approved connection or meter,' she said. 'We are inspecting each site and will disconnect any illegal connections immediately. So far, we have not filed any police complaints, but if we find these illegal connections again, we will take police action,' she said. According to PMC, Pune has over 1.65 lakh streetlight poles, many of which are still wired using overhead cables—making them easy targets for illegal tapping. The lack of robust earthing, the absence of residual current devices (RCDs), and tampering by unauthorized users have turned these poles into potential death traps, especially during the monsoon. The recent tragedy was waiting to happen, said Sudhir Kulkarni, a civic activist. 'Even after multiple electrocution incidents in the past, PMC failed to upgrade its infrastructure or monitor illegal usage. Now, after a child's death, the administration is forced into action,' he said. Swapnil Sutar, a resident of the Sinhagad Road area, said, 'With the monsoon coming, we want the authorities not just to punish those responsible but also to make lasting changes to keep everyone safe.' 'On Sinhagad Road, many street vendors sell vegetables and food using illegal electricity connections from streetlights. PMC should carry out a combined anti-encroachment drive along with the electrical department to stop this,' he said. The crackdown will continue in the coming days, focusing on busy areas and main junctions with decorative structures, said officials.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Nine killed in electrocution incidents in Pune over past year
Over the last year, according to data shared by the power department of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), nine people died in electrocution incidents in the city, triggering widespread concern and public outrage. In the latest incident which occurred near Inamdar Chowk on June 2, an eight-year-old girl reportedly came in contact with a hoarding illegally connected to a PMC-maintained streetlight pole. The hoarding was allegedly linked to a political party and had an unauthorised electricity connection, according to civic officials. Manisha Shekatkar, chief, electrical department, said inspections would be completed within two days, and strict action, including disconnection and penalties, would follow in cases of violations. 'The number of illegal connections and unapproved hoardings drawing power from streetlight poles is alarming. We will not tolerate such threats to public safety,' said Shekatkar. She said they have started checking earthing, overhead wires, illegal connections, and underground cables in the city. 'PMC has laid underground cables for most streetlight poles, but some areas, especially newly merged villages and suburbs, still have overhead wires. We are regularly working to remove such overhead cables. Now, we have also started a fresh drive to act against illegal connections on streetlight poles, loose wiring, open circuits, and underground service lines,' she said. Civic activists and residents have consistently raised concerns about exposed wiring, broken electrical boxes, and poor maintenance by both PMC and Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL). 'Overhead wires should be underground. They're prone to illegal tapping and pose serious risks. The city must release a detailed audit of all-electric poles and conduct pre-monsoon maintenance,' said Sudhir Kulkarni, civic activist. MSEDCL officials claim regular inspections are conducted, but no official data has been released on the number of poles or overhead lines in Pune. The recurring electrocution incidents have exposed critical gaps in coordination between civic and electricity authorities. Citizens are now demanding urgent reforms, strict accountability, and permanent solutions to prevent such avoidable tragedies. Dinesh Nale, a resident of Rasta Peth said, 'We are scared to even let our children play outside during rains. How many more lives will it take before the authorities wake up and fix these dangerous poles?' One of the senior officials of MSEDCL Pune circle said, 'We conduct routine checks, especially before the monsoon. However, in some cases, the issues arise from infrastructure maintained by the civic body. We are working on improving coordination to prevent future accidents.' Past incidents June 2025: An eight-year-old girl died in Rasta Peth after touching a streetlight pole. May 2025: A ten-year-old boy died in Warje after touching a live electric pole during heavy rain. September 2024: Two men electrocuted while on a music vehicle during a procession in Wadgaonsheri. August 2024: A schoolboy in Hadapsar and a woman near Bremen Chowk in Aundh died after stepping into electrically charged water. July 2024: Three youths died while trying to retrieve a food cart from floodwater in the Samarth police station area. June 2024: A housekeeping worker died after stepping on a live wire near Amar Tech Park, Balewadi.
