Municipal Commissioner Vijay Nahata said the NMMC would be undertaking the work of freeing 29 Gauthans (traditional villages) off overhead power wires and laying them underground. There are a few places in urban areas, which have overhead wires. But underground cables will be laid in these places also in a phased manner.

“Overhead wires pose a threat to people. However, the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company lacks the funds for undertaking such a task. We will be spending the money and executing the task while engineers from Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) and Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co. Ltd (MSEDCL) will be supervising the work,” said Nahata. He said that the work is likely to begin in a couple of months.

Commissioner Nahata claimed that there existed an agreement between the NMMC and MSEDCL for sharing the expenses. “The expenses for laying the power cables underground will be deducted in small installments from the electricity bills, that NMMC owes to the MSEDCL,” said Nahata.

Since the tenders have been awarded at the beginning of the monsoon, NMMC will have to wait till the end of the monsoon to commence the work. A couple of months ago, the general body of NMMC had passed a proposal to this effect. Following the approval of the general body, the MSEDC L engineers drafted the scheme and accorded its sanction. “Initially, the work of laying low tension power cables would be undertaken and it will be followed by laying of high tension cables. As per our estimate, it will be finished in a year’s time. If expedited, it could be completed in six months time,” said D R Saboo, superintending engineer of MSEDCL, Vashi circle, Navi Mumbai.

Saboo said sharing of expenses with NMMC was discussed but not finalised. “As of now, both the NMMC and MSEDCL have agreed to share the cost and will be subject to the outcome of a matter that is being heard before the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission. If MERC gives its order, it will be applicable for all cases of cost sharing for laying power cables,” Saboo said.