The State Electric Company Limited has urged contractors and individuals carrying out excavation work in Hulhumalé Phase 2 to exercise greater caution after repeated damage to underground power cables caused electricity disruptions in the area.
In a statement issued on Sunday, STELCO said recent power outages affecting several parts of Hulhumalé Phase 2 were directly linked to damage caused to its underground cable network during road excavation works.
The utility provider said its technical teams responded immediately and worked to restore electricity to all affected areas as quickly as possible.
According to STELCO, the latest incident was caused by negligence by a party involved in ongoing road construction works in Phase 2.
The company also highlighted a similar incident that occurred on April 12, when excavation work damaged a main power cable and triggered a large-scale blackout across a significant part of Hulhumalé Phase 2.
During repairs to that outage, STELCO said technicians using fault detection equipment discovered that the same cable had previously been damaged at another location. Instead of reporting the issue, those responsible had allegedly attempted to conceal the damage by wrapping the cable in tape.
STELCO said such negligent actions create major inconvenience for residents and disrupt essential daily services.
Following the latest incident, the company said it held discussions with Housing Development Corporation to strengthen preventive measures and better protect critical infrastructure in the rapidly developing residential district.
The company noted that all underground cables are installed in line with international standards and include warning tapes and protective layers to clearly mark their location.
STELCO stressed that such incidents are avoidable if contractors take proper precautions before beginning excavation work.
The company also urged anyone who accidentally damages underground cables to report the issue immediately instead of attempting to hide it.
It further reminded contractors, private companies and individuals to secure the required permits and implement proper safety measures before carrying out excavation work to prevent disruptions to essential services.
