Copyright thehindu
The view cutters being installed by Greater Chennai Corporation to hide roadside electricity infrastructure — distribution transformers, fuse boxes and switch gears — and their surroundings from the public gaze are also hiding things that should not be found amidst this gadgetry. Inside many of these enclosures, one can find big stones, rods, shrubs, broken glasses and unwanted waste materials — things that ought to be carted away but are being hidden away by those view cutters. Even trees are inside these partially closed compartments. There is no proper entrance for inspecting the transformers. Some transformers are weeping with leaking oil. Inspection becomes nearly impossible. During heavy rain, these enclosures with their small support walls for the view cutter might act like water tanks and water might enter electrical pillar boxes and cause major power outages. Removing a failed transformer would also be very difficult as view cutters might prove a hindrance. Hence restoration of power may take a longer period. Utilising sophisticated machines to clean debris inside these closed view cutters would be a challenge. Transformers are trapped inside unsafe, poorly planned metal enclosures. As an example, a partially built view cutter at Vasudevapuram, West Mambalam is shown here to understand how a view cutter is constructed without removing the unwanted materials, stones, wire fence, shrubs, glasses and other garbage including broomstick. There is also a papaya tree inside. Clearly, danger lurks inside. Summing up, these view cutters around transformers are a beauty on the outside, and a danger on the inside. (V. Ganesan is a retired executive engineer of TNEB)
