Management of the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) has advised residents in the northern region to desist from engaging in bushfire and the sitting of Television poles and felling of trees close to electrical conductors in order to protect life and properties.
The Manager for Corporate Communications, Maxwell K. Kotoka, in a statement copied to CUSTODIAN Online maintained that this would also prevent unnecessary power outages during this harmattan and Christmas season in the area.
He observed that the harmattan wind and the dry weather facilitate the start and quick spread of bush fires, stating, these fires burn down electric poles and in other cases, cause trees, TV poles, and ripped-off roofs of buildings among others to fall on electrical conductors and wires.
Consequently, he added this cause unplanned power outages and endanger lives and properties.
“Management appeals to the public to promptly report incidents of burning poles and fallen electrical conductors to the nearest NEDCo office personally or through a hotline number: 037-202-4175 for swift response” Mr Kotoka appealed.
He assured that a team of engineers are available to handle such situations.
Meanwhile, the bushfire menace is a recurring practice in many parts of the north mostly attributed to activities of hunters who search for bush meat as well as herdsmen in this harvest period.
As a result of the practice, both commercial and peasant farmers also lose their produce to bushfires in some instances affecting their economic returns and livelihood.