Our experience with Karnataka Electrical Inspectorate

 Those of us living in apartments might know that an annual inspection of the electrical installations in our buildings (DG set, earthing, wiring, lifts, etc) by the KSEI is mandatory.

This is their vision (from their citizen's charter).

"The Department which has been striving to provide near perfect electrical installations free from electrical hazards has also ensured that safe power is available at the consumer terminals for use by the end user. The department has also initiated measures to educate the public as well as Licensed Electrical Contractors with the procedures to be followed in the safe use of power to be availed from the supply terminals. The department also undertakes periodical inspections of the electrical system to educate the consumers and the public regarding the dangers from unsafe handling and usage of electric power. During the said inspections consumers and public are also educated with the information and statutory requirements in maintaining the safe distances from live supply lines / terminals / equipments, etc." 

This is as good a piece of fiction as you will get to read!  A month or so back they did visit our building (twice in the span of a year because they had missed one the previous year!) and made a report.  

So we took the necessary actions pointed out and got a Grade I contractor to inspect and sign.  A few days later the electrician of our building went to the KSEI.  There the concerned person looked at everything and said very amiably that all this was fine but we were expected to pay Rs. 5000 as a bribe to give the certification and if Rs.5000 was given he would simply certify it!  Else he would come and find mistakes and then also disqualify the contractor.  So the electrician came running back and told this to my wife.  

So my wife took the matter up in the committee and it was decided that NO bribe was going to be paid.  So they got everything fixed (earthing pits were not in good shape) and once again took the file for submission. The electrician told the engineer that he would get sweets, etc for Diwali but no money would be paid.  So the engineer told him to submit directly to "saahibru" (this is the modus operandi when no money exchanges hands as otherwise saahibru might suspect that the cut is not reaching him).  Saahibru had left for the day.  Next day saahibru was there but played ping-pong. Again after some grumbling the file was accepted but no acknowledgment was given.

My wife was annoyed and she wrote a letter asking why no acknowledgment was given for the file submitted.  The letter (it had all details of date of submission, etc) was stamped by a third person and returned.  

We are now waiting to see what will happen.  I doubt they will turn up as it will be an opportunity loss elsewhere.

So as long as you pay money you can live in an unsafe building certified as safe.  That seems to be motto.  

Srivathsa