Chennai: Several parts of South Chennai particularly Tamabram, Neelankarai, Nanganallur and other suburban areas plunged into darkness and have been facing voltage fluctuations for last two days, thanks to monsoon and the poor preparedness of Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB).
Though regional officials of TNEB said that power cuts were mainly to carry out patch works of wires and rectification junction boxes, the slow pace of rectification has increased the threat of accidents due to electrocution, as patched electrical wires can break easily.
Many localities in the city and suburbs needed new electrical wires after being severely damaged during Vardah, but faults were rectified by patchwork due to lack of enough stock of electrical wires. “Irregular power cuts in Tambaram for more than five hours over past few days have caused trouble to residents. Though patchwork is dealt during the morning hours, we have been experiencing power outage at night also,” said Josily Johnson, a resident of East Tambaram.
Though officials claim to be monsoon ready, several stretches including Saidapet Railway Station Road, T Nagar, Perambur Loco Works, Neelankarai and Kottivakkam still have dangling electric wires. The junction boxes exposed to rain water proved fatal to a family of three in Retteri last year. But authorities do not seem to have learnt a lesson, and the threat still continues.
“While electric cable wires hang overhead and are dangling on the footpaths in Ekkattuthangal in industrial estate, pedestrians have to battle with electric wires every monsoon. After the roads are flooded, these wires are a grave danger of electrocuting passersby,” said Riya Dey, a resident of Ekkattuthangal.
When contacted, TNEB officials said the primary work on underground lines and the installation of new electrical wires were done last month after an allocation of around Rs 450 crore was made for the same. However, senior authorities have not permitted any such operations fearing due to rain. The work will resume in January next year. “The installation of new electrical lines in extended corporation area will also be done in a phased manner and will take around two more years to complete,” the official added.
