Tamil Nadu

Industrial units in Karur district hit

KARUR: Frequent disruptions in power supply have returned to haunt traders and public in Karur. The situation has caused considerable consternation among the public who are in the dark as to when supply would snap or resume. Officials are lax in giving prior notice on “power tripping” as they call announced power shutdowns.

A couple of months back, there existed a situation wherein authorities resorted to power shutdown at the drop of a hat, and that too catching the public, traders and entrepreneurs unawares. Agitations by political parties, public organisations and sustained media highlight resulted in easing of the situation.

Karur town has industries ranging from small stitching, tailoring, dyeing and bleaching units that serve the giant home textile export industry to big bus body building industries that consume a lot of power. Though equipped to meet irrational power shutdowns, those units themselves sharply criticised the TNEB officials for erratic power supply.

The worst hit are the high density polyethylene mosquito net manufacturing units. If power snapped five times a day, as it does in several areas of the town these days, then a unit would lose at least Rs. 4,000 a day. That would be breaking the back of the crippled industry, industry sources said.

Authorities resort to unannounced power shutdowns and all sections of the public have been put to great discomfiture. Evening shutdowns should be avoided, said residents.

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