An inspection conducted by Fenaka to assess the safety of street lamps across local islands has found that most lights located country-wide poses safety hazards. Local councils were notified to resolve the issues, with the deadline extended by another month.
An inspection by Fenaka Corporation Limited has found that street lamps affixed in most islands poses potential safety hazards.
An announcement by the Corporation today stated that an inspection on street lights installed across all islands employing Fenaka's electricity services was proceeded in order to assess the safety of the lights.
"The inspected has found that street lights installed in most islands are supplied electricity without using an ELCB," read the announcement.
An earth-leakage circuit breaker (ELCB) is a high Earth impedance protective device used in electric installations to prevent electrical shock and electrical fires with an automated shut off trigger once leakage is detected.
Fenaka said that the possibility of a dangerous incident occurring is relatively high in this risky manner of installation and that therefore, electricity can only hereon be supplied to street lights once Sub-Main Distribution Boards (sub DB) are affixed accordingly with the model illustration issued by the company,
Councils of islands that are supplied electricity by the company have also been notified as such last month, said Fenaka.
Although notices were delivered to install sub DS boards on street lights devoid of them before June 27, Fenaka said that this window has been extended by one more month due to the importance of the work and requests from several councils.
The company explained that once the councils provide essential materials within the timeframe offered, Fenaka will install the sub DB board free of charge or the company will bill the councils to source the materials themselves and prepare the sub DBs with the assistance of their technical staff and install the boards.
According to Fenaka, street lights that are not fixed during the given timeframe will be ceased supply of electricity as this is important work carried out to conform the streetlights into the standards of the Utility Regulatory Authority (URA).
The company also assured that branches of the company will closely monitor progress of the work to ensure due diligence is exerted by island councils.
The inspection to assess the safety of street lights in Maldives was conducted last May following the electrocution of a 18 years old boy in Raa atoll, Ungoofaaru located in northern Maldives the same month after coming into contact with a puddle of water that had been electrified through a street lamp post.
Sign In