Kolkata: The West Bengal Human Rights Commission (WBHRC), headed by retired Calcutta HC Judge Jyotirmay Bhattacharya, asked West Bengal State Electricity Transmission Company Ltd (WBSETCL) to pay compensation of Rs 3 lakh to the family of Najibar Rahaman Sk, a labourer who was electrocuted and died while working at Martinpara in the Anandapur area on Aug 8, 2023. The WBHRC asked the state chief secretary to submit a report within three months about the action taken, as the commission's report stated that unauthorised constructions of buildings and shops flouting Indian Electricity rules were spotted in the Kasba area, which led to the accident.
Earlier, the Anandapur PS OC said, "On March 8, 2023, Najibar and two others working on a pipeline at a G+4 building and trimmed a small tree, throwing it on the roof of the adjoining building. A resident of that building asked them to remove the tree and Najibar climbed the roof, where he accidentally got electrocuted by a high voltage wire."
The commission, analysing the statement of Tapas Chakraborty, chief engineer (O&M-l) of WBSETCL, felt no proper step was taken by WBSETCL for the removal of unauthorised construction violating statutory rules. Chakraborty admitted the lapses on their part. It is also an admitted fact that no report was made to the executive magistrate, who is the appropriate authority for the removal of obstruction by WBSETCL, as required under law.
WBSETCL officers told WBHRC that adequate safety clearances are 4.6 m vertical clearance and 2.9 m horizontal clearance, to be maintained between the 1.32 KV line and a building. Chakraborty said the accident occurred due to unauthorised encroachment in the live line by the victim.
The WBHRC report said, "The entire materials placed on record indicate clear lapses as well as negligence on the part of WBSETCL authority concerned."
Kolkata: The West Bengal Human Rights Commission (WBHRC), headed by retired Calcutta HC Judge Jyotirmay Bhattacharya, asked West Bengal State Electricity Transmission Company Ltd (WBSETCL) to pay compensation of Rs 3 lakh to the family of Najibar Rahaman Sk, a labourer who was electrocuted and died while working at Martinpara in the Anandapur area on Aug 8, 2023. The WBHRC asked the state chief secretary to submit a report within three months about the action taken, as the commission's report stated that unauthorised constructions of buildings and shops flouting Indian Electricity rules were spotted in the Kasba area, which led to the accident.
Earlier, the Anandapur PS OC said, "On March 8, 2023, Najibar and two others working on a pipeline at a G+4 building and trimmed a small tree, throwing it on the roof of the adjoining building. A resident of that building asked them to remove the tree and Najibar climbed the roof, where he accidentally got electrocuted by a high voltage wire."
The commission, analysing the statement of Tapas Chakraborty, chief engineer (O&M-l) of WBSETCL, felt no proper step was taken by WBSETCL for the removal of unauthorised construction violating statutory rules. Chakraborty admitted the lapses on their part. It is also an admitted fact that no report was made to the executive magistrate, who is the appropriate authority for the removal of obstruction by WBSETCL, as required under law.
WBSETCL officers told WBHRC that adequate safety clearances are 4.6 m vertical clearance and 2.9 m horizontal clearance, to be maintained between the 1.32 KV line and a building. Chakraborty said the accident occurred due to unauthorised encroachment in the live line by the victim.
The WBHRC report said, "The entire materials placed on record indicate clear lapses as well as negligence on the part of WBSETCL authority concerned."