Consumer body in Coimbatore urges mandatory installation of safety devices in public parks to prevent electrocution

The Coimbatore Consumer Cause (CCC) has urged the State government to mandate the installation of Residual Current Devices (RCDs) in all public parks, playgrounds and public facilities to prevent deaths due to electrocution.

In a representation to the Secretary, Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, the organisation said the absence of RCDs in public spaces constitutes a serious safety lapse, particularly endangering children.

K. Kathirmathiyon, Secretary of CCC, said RCDs, also known as Residual Current Circuit Breakers (RCCBs), detect leakage current and disconnect power supply within milliseconds, thereby preventing fatal electric shocks. He said these devices are recognised safety mechanisms and their omission in public parks is unjustified.

Referring to recent incidents in Coimbatore, the organisation cited the deaths of two children aged six and eight who were electrocuted while playing in a park, as well as an earlier death of a 10-year-old boy in a similar incident. These fatalities, it said, were avoidable.

The letter stated that under Section 53 of the Electricity Act, 2003, and the Central Electricity Authority’s safety regulations, the owners and operators of electrical installations are responsible for ensuring protection against electric shock. Local bodies maintaining parks and playgrounds are therefore legally required to comply with these provisions.

It also noted that the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission amended the Tamil Nadu Electricity Distribution Code in December 2020 to make RCDs mandatory for new electricity connections. The continued non-installation of these devices in existing public facilities, especially those used by children, amounts to negligence, the organisation said.

The CCC has called on the State government to issue directions to all local bodies to ensure the installation of RCDs in public parks, playgrounds and public conveniences in the interest of public safety.