The Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) has warned members of the public to desist from the habit of trading under the high tension lines in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River and Rivers States.
The manager, corporate communications, John Onyi made this known during a public awareness campaign tagged “Why you should not trade under the high tension line” organized by PHED at Abuloma, Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
He added that the warning did not exclude those who are planning or having already erected structures under the power lines.
According to him, many lives have been lost due to non-adherence to safety standard, noting that last month, a fourteen years old boy lost his life when a line snapped on Abuloma 11KV feeder roasted on top of the building.
The manager explained that a safe distance on 11KV feeder stands at 5.5metres while 33KV is 12.5metres and not forgetting tolerance on 132KV lines at 25metres while on 415KV lines go for 1.5metres.
However, he noted with dismay that members of the public have habitually jettisoned the safety rules, hence the company is calling for concerted effort in enforcing the safety standards in order to save lives by the relevant authorities.
In view of the above, PHED had embarked on door to door safety awareness campaign on the dangers inherent on trading or living under the high tension lines especially those found to have contravened the safety standards.
He, therefore, emphasized that the company would not be held responsible in the event of any electrical accident under the high tension lines having repeatedly sensitized members of the public.
