Concerns about power lines crossing forests

Chi Linh Electricity is managing and operating a power grid system with many complex characteristics, many power lines cross forests, so protecting the safety of power lines is a heavy task.

Due to the special terrain with many forests and mountains, managing the power lines of Chi Linh Power Company is more difficult.

Many potential risks

In mid-May, in hot weather, we followed the Ben Tam Power Grid Operation Management Team (Chi Linh Power Company) to inspect the high-voltage power line running through the forest in Hoang Hoa Tham commune. On motorbikes, the staff roamed many management routes. At some points, they had to stop to take notes, at other points, they had to abandon their vehicles and walk into the forest to inspect the line corridor.

For those who work in the power grid, going into the forest to inspect the power lines has become a familiar task. They know every route and every position of the power poles in the area they are responsible for. In the hilly area near Phu Loi Lake (Hoang Hoa Tham Commune), there are a number of high-voltage power poles and lines passing through, so the staff have to climb and walk along the route to detect early points at risk of violating the corridor.

Under the scorching sun, sweat soaked through protective clothing, some people cleared the grass around the base of the pole, others collected dry branches, and cleared away the undergrowth that could cause fire. Mr. Tran The Cong of the Ben Tam Operation Management Team shared: “The power line through the forest is both worried about trees violating the corridor and the risk of forest fires. During the rainy and stormy season, we are afraid of trees falling and causing accidents, while during the dry season, we face the risk of forest fires that threaten the safety of the line.”

Chi Linh Electricity is managing about 30 km of power lines passing through mountainous areas and complex terrain in the communes of Hoang Hoa Tham, Bac An, Le Loi, Hung Dao and the wards of Hoang Tan, Hoang Tien, Cong Hoa, Van Duc, and An Lac.

Violations of power grid corridors in forest areas mainly come from planting trees exceeding the permitted height in the corridor. When forest land is allocated to people for production, many places do not include propaganda and guidance, leading to illegal tree planting. When violations are discovered, some households are uncooperative and do not prune trees, potentially posing a risk to power grid safety.

Although there are no specific statistics on the number of violations and incidents on power lines passing through forests, the risks are always present. “We regularly coordinate with local authorities and forest rangers to propagate and mobilize people to raise awareness of protecting power line safety. When people understand the level of danger of electrical incidents, they will proactively coordinate and join hands to protect the safety of the power grid,” said Mr. Vu Hoang Tung, Deputy Director of Chi Linh Power Company.

Need consensus from the people

In addition to the task of protecting the power lines, Chi Linh Power Company employees often take on additional forest clearing duties.

Chi Linh Power has developed a specific plan to ensure the safety of high-voltage power grid corridors and stable power supply. The unit proactively works with land users, instructs on implementing safety measures during cultivation, and provides contact information for coordination in handling any arising situations.

Chi Linh Electricity also organized for all households with gardens and forests located within the power grid corridor to sign a commitment not to violate the power grid safety corridor. Thereby, people voluntarily trim trees, preventing the risk of causing incidents. In addition, the electricity sector also coordinated with local authorities to encourage people to plant low-height trees, in accordance with regulations in the corridor area.

Ms. Tran Bich Thuan, Chairwoman of Hoang Hoa Tham Commune People's Committee, said: "Through organizations and village meetings, the local government actively propagates to raise awareness among people, especially households with production forests, so that they understand the importance and agree to protect the power grid. Thanks to that, for many years, the high-voltage power grid in the commune has been operated safely, without incidents due to corridor violations."

Increasing propaganda and clearly explaining the necessity of protecting the power grid corridor has helped Chi Linh Power Company create consensus in the community. When people join hands to protect, the work of ensuring power grid safety is more effective, minimizing the risk of electrical incidents and accidents among residents.

THANH HOA

Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/noi-lo-duong-dien-bang-rung-412641.html