MARGAO
Even as the mystery over the Sonsodo fire continues, the Electricity department has put in place a temporary measure at the site by raising the height of two electric poles of the 33KV overhead high tension wires passing over the Sonsodo dump.
The Power department has implemented the temporary measure in view of last week’s fire incident, to ensure the high tension wire is not affected in the inferno even if another fire breaks out at Sonsodo.
Assistant Engineer, Electricity, Carlos Fernandes informed that the height of the two High tension poles have been raised at Sonsodo to avert any damage to the overhead lines. “The height of the two poles have been increased since these poles were almost buried under the waste dumped by the Margao Municipality below the lines. We have also suggested to the MMC not to further dump waste under the lines, but to make a safe corridor for the overhead lines,” he said.
On the question of shifting the 33KV overhead line passing through the Sonsodo legacy dump, Carlos said the Power department has already asked the civic body to give its willingness to pay 15% supervision charges and also carry out the work of laying of 33KV underground cable through a licensed electrical contractor. “These are the works which need to be carried out by the civic body. It is for the civic body to execute the work,” he added.
Amongst the host of measures which has been recommended by the Power department at Sonsodo to contain fire incidents includes provision for fire-fighting equipment, which includes standby cylinders to put of the fire.
Incidentally, deputy Collector, Margao, Prasad Volvoikar had last week stated that his office would write to the PWD, Water Supply to set up a hose near the Sonsodo dump to meet the water requirements of the fire tenders. During last week’s fire incident, fire tenders had to return back to the station or other places for refilling of the tenders in the absence of a dedicated hose near Sonsodo.
The Power department had refused to accept the blame over last week’s fire incident, firmly ruling out the possibility of any short circuit as claimed by the Margao Municipal Council behind the fire.
In fact, the department had taken the stand that the aluminum conductor has melted due to the high heat intensity of the fire and certainly not due to the short circuit as allegedly claimed by the civic body.
In a letter to the Margao Municipal Chief Officer, the Power department had observed: “On close examination of the snapped conductor after the fire was put off, it was noticed that the snapped aluminum conductor was found melted at both ends of the snapping, some portion of interior steel conductor was intact. There is also sufficient conductor to conductor spacing clearance and no vegetation near the 33KV HT line was observed.”
