Date:21/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/21/stories/2008092154730600.htm

Tamil Nadu

Setback in wind and rain, power cut resumes

Staff Reporter

COIMBATORE: For the residents of Coimbatore, it is uncertainty again with regard to power cuts. After a short break, several parts of the city are facing frequent power cuts for the last two days.

A Tamil Nadu Electricity Board official said that the schedule issued by the board earlier on timing for the area-wise power disruption was relaxed for about a week with the generation going up in the State owing to good wind and rain.

“Now, again there is a setback.” So, “when essential we revert to the schedule,” the official said.

Secretary of the Coimbatore Consumer Cause K. Kathirmathiyon said the board had also announced power shutdown in some areas for maintenance work. Combined with the power disruption schedule, these areas went without power for nearly 13 hours in a day.

This was a burden to the public. Hence, the board should take up maintenance work during the schedule time.

Power disruption should be only during the announced timing.

The board had not withdrawn the schedule, and hence, public should also be prepared to go without power during those hours, he said. The consumer body planned to appeal to the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission to ensure that the shortage was distributed equally among all consumers in the State.

The Government should subsidise generator usage by high tension consumers for captive purpose. This would benefit the domestic consumers to a great extent.