Several parts of the city are wary of increasing night time power cuts
Chennai: With Agni Natchatram, the hottest phase of summer, setting in, residents of several parts of the city are wary of increasing night time power cuts and voltage fluctuation. The continuing hot weather has already left Chennai and its neighbourhoods reeling under scorching heat even as residents suffer sleepless nights due to short duration power cuts. Though Tangedco was able to meet the power demand this summer without imposing load shedding on consumers, the night time power cuts caused by inadequate distribution network or faults or overloading have become a major cause for concern for the power utility.
The power cuts and voltage fluctuation have been a major problem in tail-end areas, particularly in Puzhuthivakkam, Madipakkam, Poonniammanmedu, Meenambedu, Selaiyur and Old Perungalathur. Residents complain that at night, power cuts are for shorter durations but they are frequent and thus cause problems.“With rising temperature, the power situation has begun to deteriorate. Though power supply is smooth during the day, there are daily power cuts for nearly 15-20 minutes and voltage fluctuations start after 10 pm,” said K. Aruldass, a resident of second main road, Hindu Colony,Puzhuthivakka.He said despite several complaints to the Madipakkam EB office, no action was taken on the issue.
D. Muthukumaran, a resident of Meenambedu, near Ambattur, said his locality has been facing power cuts at night during summer for the past 3-4 years but no action is being taken. “When we call the local Tangedco office to complain, officials say that power cuts are due to the increased use of air-conditioners. We demand that the electricity board instal a new transformer but they are citing lack of space to set up one,” he noted.
Rajarajan of Thanikachalam Nagar, Ponniammanmedu, lamented that there was no proper response from the local TNEB office whenever he raises the issue of power cuts at night.A senior Tangedco official said complaints of night time power cuts and voltage fluctuations were addressed after the commissioning of nine new sub-stations and installation of distribution transformers. Power distribution will improve further when 18 other sub-stations are commissioned in and around the city as part of RAPDRP works, the official said, adding that action would be taken on all consumer complaints and new transformers will be installed wherever required.
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