A Public Safety Awareness Campaign in Mumbai

• Research reveal doubling of electrical accidents
• Identifies18 Campaign to educate masses about electrical accidents
• locations to arrest increasing rate of casualties.

Tata Power, India's leading private power utility company today announced their latest community initiative, "Jan Jagrutti Abhiyan-Vidyut Suraksha", a public service awareness campaign for the masses in Mumbai on the occasion of "Electric Safety Week", starting from 1st May, 2003 to 7th May, 2003.

Statistics reveal over the last 8-10 years, the number of accidents in the overheard lines has been increasing. The study carried out by Tata Power indicate, the major cause for accidents are primarily due to:
a) Cable operators stringing cable wires close to the vicinity of the high tension lines
b) Climbing on towers and roof tops under the high tension lines
c) Kite flying with metallic coated strings

The accidents take place due to ignorance or lack of knowledge amongst the masses about the risk involved due to the above-mentioned reasons.

The total electrical accidents for the year 2002 with respect to Kite flying and TV Cable stringing cable wires has doubled in comparison to the year 2001, similarly accidents arising out of climbing on roof top and towers has increased three folds.

To commemorate this occasion, Tata Power is carrying a public service awareness campaign through volunteering in 18 locations across Mumbai educating the masses about the accidents that occur in and around the high-tension transmission lines in the city. The identified 18 locations cover Tagore Nagar-Vikroli, Pant Nagar-Ghatkopar, Ram Tekdi-Parel, Ambedkar Nagar-Mankhurd, Bihari Tekdi-Kandivili, Prabhudha Nagar-Wadala, Dinabandhu Nagar-Wadala, Social Nagar-Sion, Pratiksha Nagar-Sion / Koliwada, Bahandup Village-Bhandup, Thakkar Bappa Colony-Kurla, Amar Mahal-Chembeur, Charkop Malvani-Malad, Ganesh Nagar-Jogeshwari, Mumbra and Bhendipada.

Nine teams comprising of 80 volunteers will fan out across the selected areas to put up posters and to educate the general public through lectures, jingles and live skits. Through this public awareness campaign the company intends to arrest the increasing rate of casualties from the misuse of transmission lines/towers.

Speaking at the press conference Mr. P. K. Kukde, Executive Director, Tata Power said, "as a responsible corporate citizen, we have recognized the need to carry out an ongoing public service educational campaign to arrest the increasing rate of casualties from the misuse of transmission lines and towers. It is our sincere endeavor that people at large benefit from this initiative".

About Tata Powers Social Initiatives:

Tata Power recently sponsored the Lifeline Express from 14 Feb-20th March world's first hospital train at Lonavla, which benefited over 12,000 patients covering a population of 8 lakhs in 1,000 villages located at Mulshi, Maval, Karjat and Khopoli. Tata Power conducted free operations with regard to polio defects, cataract and cleft lip operations, surgeries and also providing out patient treatment. As part of its environment to conserve and protect the ecological system, Tata Power continues to plant over 6 lakh saplings every year in the catchment areas of Lonavala, Walwhan, Shirwata, Somwadi, Thokerwadi and Mulshi areas in Maharashtra. So far Tata Power has planted over 80 lakh saplings in its catchment areas

About Tata Power:

ata Power is India's largest private sector power producer with an installed generation capacity of 2278MW. The Company has emerged as a pioneer in the Indian power sector, with a track record of performance, customer care and sustained growth. Tata Power has a presence in all areas of power sector - thermal, hydro, solar, transmission and distribution as well as in energy and broadband communication. Tata Power has played a critical role in offering uninterrupted and reliable power to Mumbai. Tata Power is a leader in introducing state of the art technologies. Among other achievements, the company installed and commissioned India's first 500 MW unit (at its Trombay thermal generating station), the 150 MW hydro-pumped storage unit at Bhira, and environment control systems like the Flue Gas Desulphurization plant. It has also installed the unique "islanding system" which has shielded Mumbai from the vagaries of grid failures. Apart from Mumbai, Tata Power has also set up Captive Power Plants and Independent Power Plants in Jharkhand, and Karnataka.

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