Latest news with #Shekatkar
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Pune civic body begins GRP coating of streetlight poles in slum areas
To prevent electric shocks from streetlight poles—especially during the monsoon—the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has initiated the application of glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) coating on poles located in slum settlements and other high-risk areas across the city. There are around 1.65 lakh streetlight poles under PMC limits. Of these, about 25% are located in densely populated areas, water-logging zones, and areas with high pedestrian movement—making them more vulnerable during rains. To address this, PMC has started two key measures such as replacing old electric poles with new fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) shockproof poles and applying epoxy coating on existing mild steel poles to prevent current leakage. Currently, PMC has started applying GRP coating on poles in areas like Sinhagad Road, Janta Vasahat, Ekta Nagar, Ahmednagar Road, and along the Palkhi route. Officials say the coating helps insulate the poles and reduces the risk of electric shock in wet conditions. Manisha Shekatkar, chief superintendent engineer of PMC's electrical department, said, 'We started the work last week and have set a target of coating 1,000 street poles. These poles are located in slum clusters, crowded spots, low-lying areas, and places prone to waterlogging.' Shekatkar added that ward offices have been asked to identify and send data on high-risk poles in their areas. 'We are using GRP coating. It takes over two hours to dry under sunlight. If the weather is clear, we manage to coat about 10–12 poles a day. However, due to the rain, we are facing difficulty, she said. According to civic officials, the epoxy coating acts as an insulating layer, preventing direct contact between exposed metal parts and rainwater, which often leads to short circuits and electric leakages. Along with this, PMC is also replacing old poles with safer FRP ones. 'Last year, our target was to replace 1,600 poles, out of which 1,300 have been done. This year, we will take up another 1,600 pole replacements,' she added. The civic body has formed quick response teams comprising officials from the electrical, road, building, and drainage departments to identify hazardous poles and carry out preventive maintenance. These teams are also tasked with inspecting poles for illegal electricity tapping—a common but dangerous practice in some localities. Civic activists, however, have pointed out that preventive measures such as this should have been a regular part of PMC's pre-monsoon safety drive. 'While the epoxy coating is a welcome step, it's a reactive measure. There needs to be a long-term plan to upgrade electrical infrastructure, especially in slums,' said Pramod Devkar, a local civic activist of Ahmednagar road area.
Hindustan Times
4 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.
Hindustan Times
18-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
After positive rating from govt, PMC STPs to get ₹28 crore grant
The union government's AMRUT 2.0 (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) scheme has given high ratings to all nine STPs operated by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), with the Mundhwa Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) receiving the 5-star rating, while the remaining eight STPs secured 4-star ratings. According to PMC Electrical Department Head Manisha Shekatkar, following the positive review, PMC is all set to get funds worth ₹28 crore from the centre. The Mundhwa project will get ₹4 crore, while the other eight projects will get ₹24 crore. Commenting about the development, Shekatkar said, 'According to ministry's announcement, STPs awarded a 5-star rating will receive ₹4 crore, while those with 4-stars will receive ₹3 crore each.' The union government's inspection teams conducted biannual assessments of these projects, examining operational efficiency, compliance with environmental norms, and use of monitoring systems such as SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) and OCEMS (Online Continuous Effluent Monitoring System) before awarding their ratings. These inspections followed National Green Tribunal (NGT) guidelines and focused on parameters such as plant functionality, cleanliness, safety audits, and environmental impact. According to the Solid Waste Treatment Department of the civic body, the star ratings are part of a broader push to encourage quality and sustainability in urban sewage treatment infrastructure under AMRUT 2.0 PMC currently operates nine municipal STPs to process the city's wastewater.
