Authority Demands Power Company Employees to Remit Rs 10 Lakh to Maharashtra Farmer
In Nagpur, Maharashtra, a consumer commission has ordered four employees of the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) to compensate a farmer for damage to his bamboo crop caused by a fire originating from power lines passing through his field.
The Additional District Consumer Grievance Redressal Commission, Nagpur, made the ruling in a recent order, holding three top-ranked engineers and the regional MSEDCL director responsible for a deficiency in service due to their negligence in maintaining the power lines.
The farmer, aged 68, had planted 5,000 bamboo trees on his farm, which were at a semi-dry stage for sale. He alleged that the trees were burned on March 22, 2018, due to friction and sparking between wires of MSEDCL's high-tension transmission line above his field.
Initially, the farmer reported the incident to local authorities and informed MSEDCL, prompting a spot inspection (panchnama) and swift repairs to the power line. The forest department later assessed the damage at Rs 10.27 lakh, but the farmer only received Rs 4.2 lakh in compensation, leading him to file a complaint with the consumer commission.
The farmer claimed the damage resulted from the negligence of the MSEDCL staff and improper maintenance of the power lines, demanding compensation equivalent to the forest department's assessment.
MSEDCL officials denied the farmer's claims and sought dismissal of the complaint, arguing that if the farmer was unsatisfied with the compensation, he should pursue redressal under the Electricity Act.
However, the commission upheld the MSEDCL’s responsibility for the fire and damage, accepting the forest department's detailed report as the true extent of the loss. The commission ordered the MSEDCL staff to pay the farmer Rs 10 lakh in compensation, with an additional Rs 40,000 for mental and physical distress and Rs 10,000 for expenses incurred.
The payment should be made within 45 days from the order date (May 15). The commission's decision reinforces the accountability of utility providers for infrastructure-related damage to private property and underscores the importance of safeguarding consumer rights, particularly for farmers.
In light of the commission's decision, the responsibility of the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) extends beyond just the electric lines, as they are also accountable for the damage caused to the farmer's bamboo crop due to negligence in the maintenance of the power lines. This incident highlights the intersection of the energy sector, business (the farmer's bamboo crop), and the need for improved finance (compensation) and industry (MSEDCL) standards to safeguard consumer rights, especially in the rural areas like Nagpur.
