Electricity distribution and Pruning of road side trees

 During rainy season the road side trees are usually in the news. The whirlwinds are the culprits in up rooting of many trees.  The pruning of the road side trees is another chore that the BBMP has to do due to the over head domestic electricity distribution system currently being followed in the city.

“Electric power transmission or "high voltage electric transmission" is the bulk transfer of electrical energy, from generating plants (historically hydroelectric, nuclear, natural gas, or coal fired but now also wind, solar, geothermal and other forms of renewable energy) to substations located near to population centers. This is distinct from the local wiring between high voltage substations and customers, which is typically referred to as electricity distribution.”  

While the bulk transfer of power does justify the over head "high voltage electric transmission", for economic reason the domestic electricity is still distributed by overhead transmission method in our city of Bangalore. In major cities of developed countries the electricity distribution sans the over head method. 

I had an interesting discussion with the KEB Engineer supervising the days pruning operation. He did lament as to why our city fathers cannot plant the road side trees only on a single side of the road, leaving the remaining side exclusively for electric poles. I for one tried to sell the under ground distribution method in stead, with both side tree planting. He was vehement in opposition to this idea of mine. 

Bangalore needs to have the design of Road Volume standardized which should be the envy of the rest of the world. Currently the Bangalore road volumes are a night mare of cables, storm water cum sewage drains, non existent foot paths, and unscientific speed bakers etc to say the least