The State government has set up a committee to recommend ‘remedial measures’ to prevent accidents caused by cables drawn by cable television operators and internet service providers (ISP) on electricity posts.
The decision came on a November 2024 order of the Kerala State Human Rights Commission asking the Electricity department to furnish the guidelines related to the use of electricity posts for drawing cable TV and ISP cables.
The State government has asked the five-member panel chaired by the Director (Safety) of the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) to submit its recommendations by September 20 this year. The panel has as its members the Deputy Electrical Inspector, two Superintendents of Police (Traffic), and an Assistant Executive Engineer from the Principal Directorate, Local Self-Governments department.
Imam’s injury
In November 2024, the State Human Rights Commission had directed the government to present before it the guidelines for drawing cables on electric posts of the KSEB. The commission had filed a suo motu case after the Imam of a mosque at Kalamassery was seriously injured by a sagging cable hanging down from a KSEB post.
Commission chairperson Alexander Thomas had observed that the KSEB and allied agencies of the Electricity department were responsible for conducting stringent inspections in the light of such accidents. The commission had asked the government to present before it comprehensive guidelines on the use of electricity posts for drawing other cables.
Details sought
The rights panel wanted to know the procedures involved in granting permission to operators, the duration of such permits, and the details of the officers accountable for conducting inspections.
As instructed by the commission, the government had convened a meeting of officials from the KSEB, Electrical Inspectorate, the Police department, and the departments of Local Self-Governments and Public Works. Subsequently, the State government submitted an interim report to the commission on July 15 this year.
Commission officials said the case is still open as the government has yet to furnish the guidelines.
Published – September 03, 2025 05:22 pm IST
