Nagpur: Despite over 1,000 Ganesh mandals seeking permission from Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) for public celebrations, only 108 have applied to Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) for temporary electricity connections, raising concerns over the safety of electrical arrangements at pandals during the 10-day festival.NMC has received 1,489 applications from Ganesh mandals, of which 331 have been rejected and 685 have been granted final NOCs after securing clearances from the police, fire and traffic departments, while the remaining are under process. This shows the number of mandals seeking authorised temporary power connections remains strikingly low.MSEDCL officials said while 108 mandals have applied for temporary connections this year, the number was 95 last year.Sources said a lack of adequate awareness among mandals about the authorised power connection facility could be one of the major reasons for the lower number of applications. The concern is significant as unauthorised or unsafe electrical connections at crowded pandals can increase the risk of short circuits, electrocution and fires.Maharashtra govt has declared Ganeshotsav a State Festival. To facilitate safe celebrations, Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) has prescribed domestic electricity tariffs for temporary connections taken by public festival organisers.MSEDCL urged mandals to make use of the facility instead of drawing electricity through unauthorised means. “For temporary connections, we are providing compulsory prepaid meters. Mandals will have to recharge them and the remaining amount will be transferred to their bank accounts immediately after the supply is disconnected,” said an official.Organisers have also been advised to maintain a safe distance between pandals, decorative lighting and tableaux and nearby electricity lines, poles and distribution transformers. They have been cautioned against placing hooks on electricity poles or overhead lines to draw power.MSEDCL said mandals should use cables capable of handling the required electrical load and avoid old or damaged wires. Proper earthing of electrical equipment must be ensured and tested periodically. Organisers have also been asked to avoid connecting multiple appliances to a single multi-plug unit to prevent overloading.Where generators are used, a separate neutral should be provided for the electricity supply to prevent power from flowing into low-voltage lines and causing accidents.Mandals can contact MSEDCL’s 24-hour helplines 1912, 19120, 1800-233-3435 and 1800-212-3435 in case of emergencies.
