STELCO: Damage to main cable on prior occasion concealed with tape

State Electric Company Limited (STELCO), on Saturday night, reported that prior damage to the main power cable in Hulhumalé Phase II had been deliberately concealed by being wrapped in tape, rather than being properly reported for repair.

In a statement issued following a power outage caused by damage to a main cable—attributed to negligence by a road construction team—STELCO said a similar incident had occurred on April 12^th. In this regard, the company detailed that attempting to locate the fault using a "fault detector," it identified an additional segment of the same cable that had been previously damaged.

STELCO said, instead of reporting the earlier damage, those responsible had attempted to conceal it by wrapping the affected area with tape. The company expressed serious concern over such irresponsible conduct, emphasizing that it results in significant inconvenience to the public and disrupts essential services.

In response to these repeated incidents, STELCO has engaged in discussions with the Housing Development Corporation (HDC), the authority responsible for managing infrastructure in Phase II, to consider preventive measures.

STELCO further noted that power cables are installed in accordance with international standards, including the use of warning tapes and protective layers to clearly indicate their location.

"We believe that such incidents can be prevented if those carrying out excavation work exercise greater caution," STELCO stated.

Additionally, the company urged any individual or party that accidentally damage a power cable during excavation to report the incident immediately, rather than attempting to conceal it.

STELCO also advised both individuals and companies to secure the necessary permits from relevant authorities and to strictly comply with established safety protocols when conducting excavation work. The utility company apologized to customers for the inconvenience caused by the power disruptions.