MSEDCl electrical staff risking lives get Rs 30 lakh insurance

MUMBAI: More than 30,000 technical staff, power engineers and grid managers of MSEDCL who are risking their lives by being on field 24x7 to light up nearly 2 crore homes, have now got an insurance against Covid threats. The MSEDCL on Sunday announced a compensation of Rs 30 lakh for family members of any worker who dies while on duty during Covid pandemic.

"This has come as a great booster for us as we are exposed to the risk of infection while going on field and many times in containment zones,'' said an electrical line staff. Without them there will be no lights. no TV, no Wi-Fi internet, no operation theatres, and moreover there will be no entertainment for people locked down at home.

"I have to convince my son who in in class 1 and daughter who is studying Class V that I will be back home soon. But I will report for duty daily and till my last breath,'' said Baburao Sable, who is a field linesman/technician. Executive engineer Sinhaji Gaikwad said the khakhi-dress linesmen were the true heroes. "They, along with the engineers, are the backbone of our system. The MSEDCL presently has a good backup, and so, if field engineer or linesman is absent, we have a standby. The work will go on uninterruptedly," he assured.

MSEDCL chief spokesperson Anil Kamble mentions that every worker has to maintain "social distancing" as job involves crowding at any place for digging or checking faults. Similar work is being done by linesmen and engineers from BEST undertaking, Adani Electricity and Tata Power who collectively supply power to 50 lakh consumers in Greater Mumbai. The BEST electricity wing had reently declared Rs 50 lakh compensation to its workers' families if there is any death on duty.

Meanwhile, in Raigad district, which had faced major power outage due to Cyclone Nisarga, the work of restoration has been on a war footing. During the weekend,. 84% of people in Raigad living in households in 1690 villages have got back electricity.

Source: The Times of India