Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru, May 16: With the India Meteorological Department forecasting the onset of the southwest monsoon by the end of May, MESCOM (Mangalore Electricity Supply Company) has stepped up its preparedness to tackle possible monsoon-related emergencies.
To ensure uninterrupted power supply and enable swift emergency response, MESCOM has formed special task forces across its jurisdiction in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Chikkamagaluru, and Shivamogga districts. A total of 489 personnel have been deployed across 14 divisions within these four districts, and 62 additional vehicles have been arranged to aid the operations, MESCOM sources revealed.
In Dakshina Kannada district, task forces comprising 146 personnel have been formed in Attavar, Kavoor, Puttur, and Bantwal, with 29 vehicles kept ready. In Udupi district, 55 personnel and 5 vehicles are deployed in Udupi, 24 personnel and 4 vehicles in Karkala, and 48 personnel in Kundapura.
In Shivamogga district, 33 personnel and one vehicle have been deployed in Shivamogga, 24 personnel and 3 vehicles in Shikaripura, 10 personnel in Bhadravati, and 34 personnel along with 6 vehicles in Sagar.
Chikkamagaluru district has seen the formation of task forces comprising 40 personnel and 4 vehicles in Chikkamagaluru, 41 personnel and 3 vehicles in Koppa, and 34 personnel along with 7 vehicles in Kadur, according to MESCOM officials.
To prevent power disruptions due to fallen trees or branches, MESCOM began trimming hazardous trees and branches as early as April. This work is nearing completion in the Kavoor, Mangaluru, Bantwal, and Puttur divisions of Dakshina Kannada district. Officials also reported that 462 dangerously positioned electric poles have been repaired and maintenance work has been carried out on over 2,600 power distribution transformers.
A nodal officer has been appointed to oversee and monitor these operations. Staff members have been instructed to capture geo-tagged images of the daily work completed and upload the information to dedicated software platforms. According to officials, approximately 80% of the preparatory work has already been completed.
For assistance during emergencies, customers can contact MESCOM through its helpline at 1912, or reach out via mobile at 8277883388 or landline at 0824–2950953.