Cuttack: Three electric transformers installed on the premises of Netaji Birthplace Museum here in order to supply power to locals have turned into a security threat for visitors.
Moreover, frequent technical glitches at these transformers have put some rare artefacts in danger.
The electricity department has installed three transformers at the north-west corner of the museum compound to supply power to households in Oriyabazar and Baunshagali areas. However, the department has not constructed boundary walls around the transformers. “The electricity department had put wire fences around the transformers. The fences have gathered rust. Now, access to the wire fences is no longer controlled and anybody can walk up to the fences, which is a risk,” said an official of the museum.
Sources said many children often enter into the prohibited zone near the transformers mistakenly during their visit to the museum. Moreover, minor boys from the locality used to come close to the transformers while collecting their snapped kites. “Security guards at the museum are facing difficulty in checking children’s entry into the prohibited area. Authorities should look into the issue at the earliest,” said museum curator Jyotiprakash Das.
According to sources, electricians of the Central Electricity Supply Utility (Cesu) have a free entry to the museum compound whenever there are technical snags at the transformers. Moreover, locals often enter the museum premises to enquire into causes behind disruption of power supply. “We are being forced to open the museum gate for Cesu electricians at night too. The electricity department should relocate the transformers at the earliest,” said a security guard of the museum.
Local corporator Arun Kumar Sethi claimed he has raised the issue with the district collector and Cesu authorities several times but nothing is being done.
“Dignitaries including the Chief Minister, central and state ministers and MPs usually visit the museum. The three transformers have become a security threat,” Sethi said.
Cesu junior manager Shibani Shankar Bastia, however, claimed the transformers were installed on the museum premises after obtaining consent from all stakeholders. “We are planning to lay underground cables to the transformers. Our employees will be deployed on the museum premises to keep people away from the prohibited zone during the upcoming Netaji birth anniversary celebrations. We will try to construct boundary walls around the transformers in future,” Bastia said.
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