If you are a resident of Thimphu Thromde, watch out for slanted electric transmission poles. While the Bhutan Power Corporation is busy laying electric cables underground, residents in the capital say the remaining overhead cables and transmission poles are not maintained. People say the slanted poles are a risk to pedestrians and vehicles. The BPC on the other hand says, the poles despite not being aesthetic, pose no risk to people. They say the underground cables will soon replace the electric poles and overhead cables.
There is no fixed timeline as to when all the overhead electric cables in the Thimphu Thromde will be laid underground.
Meanwhile, according to Thim Throm residents, several slanted electric poles seen along the highways and in residential areas have not been maintained for a long time
“It is dangerous for passersby and vehicles. Everyone seems scared of it. The labourers in my construction site have been telling me that the poles are concerning and that I should inform them about it to the BPC,” said Tshering Dorji, a resident.
“The most dangerous ones are the poles that are inclined by its rusted base. If these poles are not checked and maintained, they can fall anytime on travellers,” said Ugyen Lhamo, another resident.
However, the BPC says that electrical poles and other utilities like transmission lines and transformers are maintained annually, and as and when information is received from the public.
Residents BBS talked to cite the example of a woman being hit by a falling streetlamp in Changjiji in 2021 and called for periodic checking and maintenance of transmission poles.
“Wherever I go, I can see many slanted poles. There have been incidences that happened due to such poles. It is dangerous, especially for people like us who work outdoors,” said Kezang Tashi, a resident.
According to the BPC, construction and excavation works are also disturbing the foundation of electric poles.
They also said that due to a large number of distribution cables and transformers, it is difficult to maintain all the transmission poles.
According to the BPC, there are more than 1000 electric transmission poles and around 600 distribution transformers in Thimphu Thromde alone.
Namgay Dema
Edited by Sherub Dorji
