LUCKNOW: Nearly two years prior to a devastating fire in Aliganj that claimed 15 lives, the Uttar Pradesh government had issued comprehensive directives for regular electrical safety inspections and renewal of safety clearances for commercial entities to mitigate fire and electrical hazards.
The directive, issued on November 9, 2023, by the then Additional Chief Secretary (Energy), Mahesh Kumar Gupta, followed a fire that occurred on September 5, 2022, at the Levana Suites hotel in Hazratganj, resulting in four fatalities.
Referencing a government notification from May 6, 1994, Gupta emphasized that inspections and testing of all high-voltage, extra-high-voltage, and medium-voltage electrical setups are required every three years. He noted that neglecting these inspections has frequently resulted in accidents, endangering lives and property, with the Levana hotel fire highlighting the need for stricter enforcement.
The new order mandates regular inspections of electrical systems in all establishments according to the Central Electricity Authority’s safety regulations. Owners and operators of hotels, hospitals, malls, office complexes, and high-rise buildings are required to conduct these inspections every three years.
Buildings with significant public traffic must obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Directorate of Electrical Safety (DES) in Uttar Pradesh prior to receiving temporary or permanent power connections. The DES is responsible for identifying these buildings, overseeing compliance, and issuing notices. Power supply can be suspended if serious safety issues remain unresolved for over a month.
This issue has resurfaced in light of the recent fire in Aliganj.
In the meantime, the Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Upbhokta Parishad (UPRVUP) has appealed to the Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission for more stringent enforcement of electrical safety regulations. UPRVUP Chairman Avadhesh Kumar Verma stated that Uttar Pradesh has approximately 2.6 million commercial electricity consumers with a total connected load of around 7.6 million kW.
Every month, about 4,000 new commercial electricity connections are established in Uttar Pradesh, with 3,252 new connections registered via the Jhatpat portal between June 1 and June 23.
Verma, representing the consumer advocacy group, criticized electricity distribution companies for prioritizing revenue collection over adherence to electrical safety requirements. “The Aliganj incident exemplifies a common issue where consumers obtain domestic connections but later use the premises for commercial purposes. Although billing is often switched to the commercial category, the obligation to secure an electrical safety NOC is frequently ignored, heightening the risk of accidents,” he added.
