Lok Sabha Question No. 461 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-22
Subject: Losses to Farmers due to Loose High-Tension Wires
Ministry: POWER
Asked by: Prathap Simha, Annasaheb Shankar Jolle, Umesh G. Jadhav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.461 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.07.2021

## LOSSES TO FARMERS DUE TO LOOSE HIGH-TENSION WIRES

461. SHRI PRATHAP SIMHA:

SHRI ANNASAHEB SHANKAR JOLLE:

DR. UMESH G. JADHAV:

Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state:

(a) whether the  farmers  of  the  country  are  facing  huge  losses  every  year  due  to  fire  in  the fields  because of loose high-tension wires and if so, the details of incidents reported during the last three years, State-wise;

(b) whether  the  Government  proposes  some  compensation  to  the  farmers  for  loss  due  to electric fire and if so, the details thereof;

(c) the mechanism for calculation of loss and the amount of compensation paid so far during the said period, State-wise;

- (d) whether the Government proposes to formulate any policy to review the  mechanism for calculation of loss to give adequate compensation to the farmers; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reaction of the Government thereto?

## A N S W E R

## THE MINISTER OF POWER AND NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY

(SHRI  R.K. SINGH)

(a) to (e) : No   such  incident  of  fire  has  been  reported  in  the  lines  owned  by  Inter  State Transmission licensees including Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd during the last 3 years due to loose  high  tension  wires  of  transmission  lines.  Various  regulations  and  standards  for  safe construction,  operation  &  maintenance  of  electricity  infrastructure  including  for  HT  lines  viz. minimum ground clearance, support structures, right of way, span, sag and tension, etc. have been notified by the Government of India/ Electricity Regulatory Commissions/State Power Departments to be strictly adhered to by the Distribution and Transmission Utilities.

In  addition,  the  Government  of  India  through  Skill  India  has  taken  initiative  to  train  the linemen of the DISCOMs to help them maintain the infrastructure created.

Electricity  is  a  concurrent  subject  and  distribution  of  electricity  falls  primarily  under  the purview of the respective State Governments and it is the responsibility of the respective State Power Utility to operate and maintain the electricity infrastructure in proper condition. Accordingly, the compensation for losses caused by any electricity accidents including fire in the fields caused by loose high-tension wires falls within the domain of the State Government/Utilities and is decided by the respective State Government/State Power Utility as per their policies in this regard.

Information  in  this  regard  was  sought  from  all  the  States.  However,  only  State  of Karnataka,  so  far,  has  reported  that  they  have  paid  compensation  amounting  to  Rs.  136  lakh towards  352  incidents  of  fire  in  the  field  related  to  loose  high-tension  wires  of  the  Distribution Companies, as per their State policy during the periods 2018-19 to 2020-21.

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