Infrastructure Safety and Security

Broadly speaking there are two categories of infrastructure: 1) soft infrastructure and, 2) hard infrastructure. Soft infrastructure is institutions that are needed to maintain and man operations such as health, education, governance, finance, economic/social/environmental and cultural standards of a country.

Hard infrastructure is tangible, physical systems and networks such as electricity, transportation, and telecommunication, inevitable for the functioning of a modern society.

Electricity is a critical sector globally and almost all economic activities depend on supply of reliable quality of electricity. It is a key driver on the path of sustainable development and its absence or weakness a deterrent to growth, development and competitiveness.

It is the oxygen of the economic body. The more advantageous the infrastructure the more safety it demands. Through various sources of audio-visual communication, however, people often come to know of the news about the loss or irreparable damage from this infrastructure in the shape of electrocution, injury or shock of a PDL, TDL, lineman, daily wager, seasonal or any other official/officer in the discharge of duties or a consumer.

Then completion of procedural formalities takes time in the settlement of cases and claims for payment of compensation to the victim or the next of kin. Sometimes cases get entangled between the claimants and the infrastructure authorities each pleading innocence leading to legal battles fought in the judicial courts as a last resort as happened in the case of a five year old Shiv Kumar from Bhadore village of Jammu who visited his uncle on 7/8/2017.

He unfortunately touched a live and faulty power line passing above the roof of the house. He suffered horrific electrocution and lost both arms. This negligence, as proved and judged by a judicial court, by the concerned department left him 100 percent permanently disabled.

After a legal battle of more than six years, the J&K Hon’ble High Court on 30/12/2023 awarded him Rs. 59.75 lakh in compensation recognizing the fault of Government. Though this money will support him, it cannot provide solace or replace the lost limbs or recoup shattered dreams as these cannot be bought like edibles or construction material.

They become incapacitated and thus feel like a burden not only for themselves but also for others. The nature and utility of this infrastructure prerequisites matching safety through trained personnel laced with safely insulated equipment to ensure personal and the public safety.

Such incidents should be totally eliminated with a genuine laying of electricity connection lines and behavior germane to the theory and theme of the infrastructure, else life shall continue to either bleed or cease altogether, and property to suffer damages irredeemable.

Though there should be safety and security to every category and kind of infrastructure, the one related to electricity generation, transmission, grid, sub-transmission, distribution and its other utilities is of prime need, perceiving its potential catastrophic consequences.

Infrastructure security too is equally and essentially a sine qua non to protect the critical system and its assets against any physical or cyber threats. An Electric Inspector namely Imtiyaz Ahmad Shah of Chattabal of Srinagar also died on 14/2/2024 reportedly due to electrocution at Parimpora Srinagar.

Complex nature of this infrastructure which represents one of the essential infrastructures in our economy and society cannot be overlooked or compromised. Adequate power infrastructure safety and security management are required.

The author is a former Sr. Audit Officer and Consultant in the A.G’s Office Srinagar.