Residents in colonies under HT wires live in constant fear

East Zone: The residents of colonies from Sai Ganesh Nagar Colony, Tirumala Nagar, Sri Krupa Nagar, Posh Colony, Sri Krupa Nagar Colony, Jillelguda, Balapur, Bahadurpura, Lenin Nagar, Janapriya Nagar in the eastern part of the city are living in perpetual fear due to the High Tension wires that hover over their houses.   

When the HT wires were set up in 1983, these localities were considered as the outskirts of the city but over the years, hundreds of colonies sprang up and people purchased plots as they were available at low rates. In the last few years, however, several deaths occurred due to contact with HT wires has become a serious concern. Sai Ganesh Nagar Colony president Srinath says, “Fed up after giving several representations, the colony residents spent Rs 3.30 lakh to shift the poles. The government has not done anything even after deaths were reported.” 

Four days ago, a boy suffered 90 per cent burns and is battling for life. Last year, Sai Kaushik, a 10-year-old boy of Triveni High School died when he accidentally touched a wire. Allam Yadaiah, president of Tirumala Nagar Colony says, “The government is not bothered. People are living in fear. On an average, there are two to three such incidents every month.” The government’s plan of laying underground cable has not taken off and residents have submitted several representations but to no avail. Laxman Rao, a resident of Sri Krupa Nagar Colony says, “People are afraid to go on to the terrace. There have been instances when TVs, refrigerators and other electrical appliances burn out due to high tension wires.” 

In certain cases, cables fall off onto the streets leading to panic. In a recent incident at SYR Garden cables were lying on the street for weeks, only after residents raised an alarm did the authorities remove them. 

BY Venkatesh Pusunuru