Hanging power cables pose a threat to visitors at BRS Nagar market

Bunches of intertwined, naked wires hanging at the F-block market in BRS Nagar are posing threat to visitors. Some wires are hanging just four feet above the ground and in the parking area, a few naked wires are almost touching the ground.

The visitors to the market find it really unsafe to park their vehicles because of the threat posed by live wires. Moreover, a pole on the roadside is tilted to 45 degree angle and commuters fear that it may fall anytime.

On one hand, the market association members blame Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) for not resolving the problem, on the other hand, the PSPCL says shop owners in the market are not allowing them to place electricity poles in front of their shops due to which work cannot be started to lift the hanging wires.

Saleem Ahmad, owner of the Saleem Salon in the market, said, “No one seems to be bothered about these hanging wires which can be threatening to life. My customers complain to me that they find it scary to cross the live wires or to park their vehicles nearby.”

Jagdeep Khera, another shop owner in the market, said, “We have filed complaints many times to the department, but to no avail. In April, they made excuses of Lok Sabha elections, then they visited the area but did nothing to make things right.”

Daljit Singh, senior executive engineer (XEN), Aggar Nagar Block, said, “No one from the market has filed any complaint regarding the problem to me. But as this problem was in my notice, linemen went to fix electricity poles and lift the hanging wires, but the shop owners did not allow them to do so. How the shop owners can blame the PSPCL when they themselves do not want to resolve the problem. They say that installing poles in front of their shop will deface the market.”