In a groundbreaking move, the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) has launched an innovative campaign leveraging the popular messaging platform WhatsApp to empower residents in Western Maharashtra to report potential threats to electrical safety. The initiative, which covers urban and rural areas alike, aims to address concerns such as broken power lines, dangling wires, open or missing fuse boxes, and exposed underground cables due to digging.
MSEDCL has streamlined the reporting process by providing dedicated WhatsApp numbers for different regions. Residents in Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad cities, Haveli talukas, and Mulshi, Velhe, Maval, Khed, Junnar, and Ambegaon talukas can reach out to 7875767123. For Baramati, Indapur, Daund, Shirur, Bhor, and Purandar talukas under Baramati Division, the designated WhatsApp number is 7875768074. Separate numbers have been allocated for Solapur district (7875440455), Kolhapur (7875769103), Sangli (7875769449), and Satara district (7875768554).
These numbers exclusively accept information and complaints accompanied by photos and the complete address or location of the security threat from the power distribution system. MSEDCL encourages citizens to use WhatsApp for reporting, but for those without the app, information can be submitted through SMS to the relevant mobile number.
Additionally, citizens can contact MSEDCL’s toll-free numbers 1800-212-3435, 1800-233-3435, or 1912, operational 24 hours a day, for reporting electrical safety concerns.
The reporting process involves sending information and complaints, along with photos, through WhatsApp. Upon receipt, MSEDCL promptly forwards the details to the relevant divisional and sub-divisional offices. After necessary repair work is completed, the concerned complainants receive post-repair photographs through WhatsApp. In cases requiring senior office approval, funding, or resource relocation, proposals are sent accordingly, and citizens are kept informed of the progress.
Ankush Nale, Regional Director of Pune, urges the public to actively respond and cooperate with MSEDCL’s initiative to enhance public electricity safety. Emphasizing the importance of safety, MSEDCL urges the public to refrain from pasting posters or leaflets on infrastructure like transformers, feeder pillars, and electricity poles to avoid the risk of electrical accidents.
