Bangaloreans caught in a web of wires

BANGALORE: Tax-paying citizens of Bangalore have been getting one shock after another these days, thanks to the insensitivity, callousness and inefficiency of civic authorities. A 17-year-old college student gets down from a bus on to a flooded road during a heavy downpour, tries wading his way through stagnant water but falls into an open manhole and gets washed away by gushing water.
A seven-year-old boy, on his way home with biscuits and chocolates purchased from a neighbourhood shop, accidentally touches a low-hanging cable television wire connected to a powerline, and in seconds, his life is snuffed out.Both within a month.
When shocked citizens raise a hue and cry, what do the authorities do? No, they don''t own up their lapses. No assurances either. Instead, they begin a blame game. Result: No agency is held accountable, a shoddy damage-control measure is undertaken, a small compensation in the form of cash is offered to the victim''s family, and politicians rush to the place of mishap more to gain political mileage. Once the brouhaha dies down, everyone goes into a slumber till another tragedy occurs.
Take the death of the young boy by electrocution. For the boy''s family, friends and concerned citizens, the official apathy and helplessness come as a bigger shock than the tragedy. Let us look at what the players involved say:
*Electrical inspectorate (responsible for policing powerlines): We are helpless. We are understaffed.
*Bescom: Cable operators are to blame. We lack the manpower to check illegal operators who are using our poles.
*Cable operators: We pay rent to Bescom to use their poles. Maintenance is their job.
*KERC: We can take suo motu action against Bescom, but the government has tied our hands.
As pass-the-buck game continues, politicians descend on the scene and play to the gallery. First, Power Minister and JD(S) leader H D Revanna meets the family members, blasts Bescom officials in their presence, suspends a few and orders an inquiry by the chief electrical inspector. He also announces a compensation of Rs 1 lakh. The family promptly rejects it. Next, the Congress, not to be left behind, swings into action. It forces CM Dharam Singh to visit the victim''s house. He too takes officials to task and orders another inquiry to be conducted by his principal secretary S V Ranganath. By this time, Bescom has already initiated its own inquiry to be held by its chief engineer. Three inquiries into one tragedy! Will anything come of them? What if they come up with three different versions? Citizens are skeptical.