SESB advised on the Ranau overhead lines
Published on: Friday, November 13, 2020
By: Sidney Skinner
These power lines in Inanam become entangled with an overgrown tree nearby.
SABAH Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) staff have been instructed to be more diligent in keeping the firm’s overhead lines in Ranau free of foreign objects.This follows a complaint from a motorist about the overgrown the trees in parts of the district, particularly along the stretch leading to the government rest-house.
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He said the branches of this greenery had encroached into the path of the electricity cables.
The individual said, in one section, there were three dead trees which looked as if they could fall onto the overhead lines at anytime.
The driver related his grievance to Hotline in a letter which was forwarded to the company.
A SESB spokeswoman said the firm’s branch in Ranau was queried about this matter.
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She said its staff in the district investigated the correspondent’s claims shortly after this.
“They confirmed the proximity of the dead trees to the low-voltage lines near the rest-house,” she said.
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“Action was later taken to chop down these greenery to protect these insulated cables.
She said SESB personnel were in the process of checking on the condition of the electricity lines elsewhere around the town.
“If need be, we will work with the District Council, to deal with the problems posed by the overgrown trees as this local authority is responsible for maintaining much of this greenery.”
The spokeswoman urged the public to report any irregularities involving the electricity cables directly to the firm’s attention, so these problems could be resolved as soon as possible.
The power line in Ranau having the same problem.
ANSON of Ranau said the cables along the road leading to the rest-house and the Forestry Department had become entangled in the overgrown trees on the verge.
“Thankfully, these lines were not severed but as a result many of the poles were left slanting,” he said.
“However, there have been instances in other parts of the district where the branches have snapped and fallen on the cables.”
He said he shared his observations with his friends living in Ranau.
“They wondered if the overhead lines might be electricity cables. My friends feared that a stray spark from the wires might cause the greenery to catch on fire.”
On top of the possible fire-hazard, he said his companions also worried about the chances of a passer-by getting electrocuted.
“Some of them claimed to have voiced their fears to SESB but, so far, nothing has been done to trim the branches.”
Meanwhile, the management is looking into an Inanam resident’s claims that some of the power lines in Kg Sinulihan have become entangled in an overgrown tree nearby.
MONIQUE expressed her misgivings about the potential damage that this greenery might cause to the cables in her area.
She was under the impression that this tree had not been maintained in sometime.
As a result, the electricity lines along the stretch had snagged on the branches, according to her.
“Given the strong winds and heavy rains which we have been experiencing on and off since October, thankfully, these cables have not snapped,” she said.
“Many of us living here fear that we might experience a blackout if the electricity poles collapse or if the transmission lines attached to them severed in two.”
Monique said several of his neighbours had reported these irregularities to SESB.
“They were assured that this problem would be attended to and told to be patient, each time they contacted the firm to find out what had been done.”
The resident provided Hotline with the location of the tree in question. This information was forwarded to theStay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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