Illegal excavation activities near Extra High Voltage (EHV) transmission towers have raised serious concerns over the safety of Madhya Pradesh’s power infrastructure, especially with summer storms and strong winds intensifying across the State. Incidents of unauthorised digging of soil and hard-gravels around transmission tower foundations have been reported from several districts including Jabalpur, Indore, Bhopal, Gwalior, Ujjain, Rewa, Shajapur and Khandwa. Experts believe such activities are weakening the foundations of transmission towers and increasing the risk of collapse during heavy rain, storms and high-speed winds. D K Agrawal, Chief Engineer, Extra High Tension Line Maintenance, MP Transco, said, “The company is continuously co-ordinating with local administrations to prevent illegal excavation near transmission infrastructure and maintain the safety and reliability of the state power grid.” According to power sector experts, transmission towers depend on strong and stable soil support for their structural safety. Continuous excavation near the base of towers can destabilise the structures and create a serious threat to the power transmission network. Officials have expressed concern that any tower collapse could result in loss of life and property, besides causing major electricity disruptions in several parts of the State.

 

Authorities are also worried about rising cases of encroachment, unauthorised construction near transmission lines and theft of tower materials, which are further affecting the security of the transmission network. Amid the increasing threat, Madhya Pradesh Power Transmission Company (MP Transco) has intensified monitoring and is planning a special inspection campaign across the State. Regional offices have been instructed to identify vulnerable transmission towers and submit detailed ground reports. The company is also working with district administrations to stop illegal excavation and take strict action against violators. Retired transmission engineers have pointed out that although electricity demand in Madhya Pradesh has increased nearly four times in the last two decades and the transmission network has expanded significantly, the number of maintenance staff has reduced over the years. Experts say this shortage has affected regular inspection and monitoring work, increasing the chances of technical risks. “Such incidents may not occur frequently, but whenever they happen, the impact can be extremely serious,” a retired transmission engineer said. Energy experts warned that the transmission network is the backbone of electricity supply for millions of consumers, and any negligence in tower safety could lead to a major power crisis during adverse weather conditions. As per official figures, Madhya Pradesh currently has around 1,258 EHV feeders, about 89,300 transmission towers and nearly 43,612 circuit kilometers of transmission lines under MP Transco.