Even as the North Eastern Regional Electricity Board has given the go ahead signal to replace the electric over head line with underground cables at Imphal and Greater Imphal areas, a low, drooping high tension wire claimed the live of a man on November 19 at Malom Maning Chida Loukol. No doubt the accident was a freak mishap and the man who died was not traveling on the truck which came into contact with the high tension wire but a cyclist who just happened to be near the truck when it touched the drooping wire.
However, can we really say that it was fate that the man should die or can we subscribe the death to the sheer negligence of the Electricity Department? It is a tragic commentary on the state of affairs here that people have to die due to such factors as a low hanging high tension wire.
If the incident had occurred at any of the more developed countries or even in other States of India where the powers that be are sensitive to the need of the people, then surely heads would have started rolling by now. It is unforgivable that people should continue to die because of sheer negligence on the part of the Government machinery.
We really do not know at what height high tension wires are supposed to be connected but reports culled from the spot of the highly unfortunate incident said that the high tension wire which came into contact with the truck was strung at a height of about 10 feet above the ground. Surely this must go against the stipulations laid down by the Electricity Department or do we have such stipulations?
It is not only the question of a life being snuffed out but also the utter callousness of the authority to details like ensuring the safety and security of the common people that is disturbing. Again it is not only in the villages and far flung places that high tension wire droops dangerously low but even in the middle of the capital city. A walk down any streets of the numerous leikais in Imphal and its surrounding areas will testify this.
So far we have not heard anything from the Electricity Department and this is not surprising for accountability is a concept that is absent in the lexicon of the Governmental set up. We acknowledge that accidents will continue to happen but this should not grant Government employees the license to overlook the threat perception posed to the people because of their negligence.
The tragedy with Manipur is Government Departments just do not seem to realize that they have a duty and responsibility towards the people. Departments which are there to serve and look after the interest of the people and employees who should be dispensing with their duties have come under the assumption that by doing their duty they are doing a big favor to the people.
The freak mishap at Malom in many ways reflects the work culture and dedication towards one's duty amongst the Government employees. The high tension wire could not have slackened all of a sudden and we are sure it must have been hanging precariously low to the ground for quite sometime. It would be in the fitness of things if the Power Minister, Phungzathang Tonsing gets his act together and try to fix responsibilities for the fatal accident.
As the Power Minister he owes it to the people to probe the matter thoroughly and take up corrective measures to ensure that such unfortunate incident do not occur again. Let this incident also be a reminder to all concerned that human life is too precious to be wasted just because of the callousness of some employees or Government Departments.
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