‘File affidavits over deaths, injuries to linesmen’

RANCHI: The Jharkhand State Electricity Regulatory Commission (JSERC) — the state’s power regulatory body — on Wednesday asked power distribution licensees to file affidavits detailing each case of injuries/deaths of linesmen caused by accidents by December 2.

The affidavits should be filed by officers of the general manager rank, JSERC chairman NN Tiwari said after hearing the complainants of the licensees.

JSERC took cognizance of the recent accidents involving linesmen and field staff and summoned power companies to chalk out modalities on safety measures and timely payment of compensation.

The regulator also sought clarifications over schemes regarding compensation package, injuries sustained, safety measures already undertaken, including details of items in safety kits to each individual engaged in the works of the electricity affairs.

The power companies have also been directed to submit the details of workers engaged on mandate/casual workers/or any other workers paid directly or indirectly from the funds of the licensees, besides payment of compensations and their rehabilitation (in case of loss of life or limbs), provisions of compensation for loss of lives or livestock.

However, on Wednesday, the field staffs who turned up said JBVNL officials do not deal them after accidents and hardly pays compensation.