MSEDCL to keep tabs on Ganesh mandals

KOLHAPUR: The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) has decided to form mobile teams that will visit various Ganesh mandals in the district to check whether they have officially sought power connection.

There have been incidents in the past where MSEDCL officials found mandals using domestic connections. The state power utility has also increased the height of the cables that were obstructing the procession.

The power distribution utility has been facing two major hurdles almost every year, especially in last 10-15 years, in the form of increasing height of Ganesh idols and power thefts. It has been observed that mandals do not get official connection from the MSEDCL, which eventually leads to financial losses.

Sunil Mane, city executive engineer in the MSEDCL, said the company has special provision of supplying power to the mandals with temporary connections. "There have been hundreds of mandals that set up pandals and need electricity connection. It would be better for the mandals to get official connection, as we will be keeping a close watch on their activities," he said.

The MSEDCL has formed mobile teams that would visit mandals and their pandals from time to time and check the authenticity of electricity connection. Every team will consist of six members. Besides, another team will also visit mandals in the district.

MSEDCL officials also pointed out towards the incident of a mandal member, who lost his life while trying to push a horizontal hanging power cable. He died on the spot as the cable was carrying current. The Ganesh idol's height is another debatable issue for the administration as well as MSEDCL officials.

In some cases, mandals decorate the chariot which adds to the height of the idol during the immersion procession. Mandals carry wooden rods or bamboo sticks to push the cable up and make way for the idol, which is a risky business.

Mane said, "We have already instructed the mandals to keep the overall height of the idol limited so that they would not need to push up the cables and take high risk."