Life under damaged electricity wires

Lela Khechoshvili, Kakheti 

Residents of Vazisubani village in Gurjani municipality has been requesting removal of the electricity towers from the area for several years already, but in vain. According to them, damaged towers threat their health and life.

High-voltage lines, which supplied Vachnadzeani village with electricity from the neighboring village of Vazisubani, are stretched over the yards and houses of local residents. Most of the towers are damaged, for what the wires have lowered down and now they are stretched 5 meters up above the ground. In the yard of local Vakhtang Dzuliashvili, the high-voltage line is hanging 3.5 meters up from the ground.  

"In my yard wires are hanging so low, that we had to cut fruit-trees to avoid possible fire. We cannot allow children to play outside, because we are afraid, they can throw something to the wires and it will end in a tragedy. I survived three times from light electricity shock. In addition, it damaged our health because we live very close to the high-voltage electricity. We have been arguing for years, but nobody cares about our problems. Do they wait for a tragedy?!” Vakhtang Dzuliashvili said. 

Aleksandre Solomnishvili said high voltage lines go through his balcony too. The electricity tower stands next to his house. The tower is burnt so the wires can fall from it any minute. 

With the support of media Solomnishvili appealed to the representatives of the Gurjaani district administration and head office of the electricity distribution company. According to him, the representatives arrived in the village, studied the situation and told him – You can buy a new tower and we will replace it. 

In 2011, manager at the Gurjaani service center of the JSC Kakheti Energy Distribution Ilia Amonashvili promised the local population to help them. Amonashvili planned replacement of towers, but the promise was not kept. 

Residents of Vazisubani village are particularly concerned about the towers standing behind the school. 

“The towers are so damaged, we are afraid they will fall down any moment. The two poles that stand behind the school create particular threat. Children are walking in the area and it’s very dangerous”, Marine Solomnishvili said. 

Head of public relations unit at the Kakheti Energy Distribution Company Beka Baramidze told Human Rights Centre, that the rehabilitation works will start in upcoming months in Vazisubani. 

“We know the situation in Vazisubani village, but the situation is much more critical in other villages. Currently, we are rehabilitating the system in several villages. And will start rehabilitation of the system in Vasizubani village in the nearest future,” Beka Baramidze said. 

Locals request to ensure security of the Kakheti Energy Distribution Company in a timely manner.