Sun May 25 06:27:31 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article based on the provided text, along with a summary:

**Summary:**

A consumer commission in Nagpur, Maharashtra, has ordered four employees of the state-run power company MSEDCL to pay ₹10 lakh in compensation to a farmer. The farmer’s bamboo crop was destroyed in a fire caused by faulty power lines. The commission found the power company negligent in maintaining the lines, leading to the fire and constituting a deficiency in service. The compensation includes interest, distress payment, and expenses.

**News Article:**

**Power Company Employees Ordered to Pay Farmer ₹10 Lakh for Fire Damage**

*Nagpur, Maharashtra – May 25, 2025* – A consumer commission in Nagpur has directed four employees of the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) to pay ₹10 lakh (approximately $12,000 USD) in compensation to a local farmer whose bamboo crop was destroyed by a fire ignited by faulty power lines.

The Additional District Consumer Grievance Redressal Commission ruled that three engineers and a regional director of MSEDCL were negligent in maintaining the high-tension power lines passing over the farmer’s field. The fire, which occurred on March 22, 2018, completely destroyed 5,000 semi-dry bamboo trees ready for sale.

The complainant, a 68-year-old farmer, reported the incident to local authorities, including the police and the tehsildar. A subsequent investigation by the forest department assessed the damage at ₹10.27 lakh. While the farmer initially received ₹4.2 lakh as compensation, he filed a complaint with the consumer commission seeking full compensation, citing negligence on the part of MSEDCL.

MSEDCL officials denied the claim, arguing the farmer should have sought redressal under the Electricity Act. However, the consumer commission sided with the farmer, stating that the company’s failure to properly maintain the power lines constituted a deficiency in service.

The commission ordered the MSEDCL employees to pay the full ₹10.27 lakh as assessed by the forest department, along with 9% annual interest from May 23, 2018, until the payment is made. Additionally, the officials were ordered to pay ₹40,000 for the farmer’s mental and physical distress and ₹10,000 for complaint expenses. The payment must be made within 45 days of the May 15th order date.

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