The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Erratic power supply irks residents

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 22, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Erratic power supply irks residents

Staff Reporter

CHENNAI: Residents of Choolaimedu turned up in large numbers for a grievance redressal programme organised by the Choolaimedu Exnora Innovators Club.

The meeting, which was attended by officials from the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB), saw residents from Zachariah Colony, Namachivayapuram and Bhajanai Koil Street and other places in Choolaimedu giving voice to complaints of low voltage, voltage fluctuations, frequent power cuts, placement of transformers that blocked the passage in some houses.

One resident pointed out that if the TNEB co-ordinated with the residents in the area the problem of unplanned cable work could be avoided. S. Kasturi Rangan, secretary, Choolaimedu Exnora Inovator's Club said the residents of Zachariah Colony, ONGC Flats at Choolaimedu had been experiencing power disruption daily for the past 15 days due to faulty feeder lines. The residents of Gill Nagar also complained of erratic power supply. He said the TNEB must step up the capacity of transformers to improve power supply or erect additional transformers.

Residents demanded early completion of work on laying underground cables and a copy of the citizen's charter and contract of supply.

A. Balasubramanian, assistant executive engineer in-charge, Valasaravakkam, who responded to the complaints said the majority of the grievances related to stoppage of supply, low and fluctuating voltage and on the TNEB not responding to customers calling about a power cut.

Data had been taken on the power shortage position and action would be taken soon, he said. There were one-lakh service holders so even 10 persons could block the telephone lines if they called simultaneously about a power cut. "The situation was sometimes so grave that they could not even communicate with their own line staff during an emergency," he said.

K. Viswanathan, executive engineer (operations and management), said a study was on to tackle overload and low voltage interruptions.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu