Tamil Nadu

Protest against undeclared power cuts

CHENNIMALAI: The textile town’s residents joined weavers, farmers and traders, who had downed shutters on Thursday, in expressing their protest against undeclared power cuts.

K.V. Ponnaiyan of Revolutionary Youth Front said weaving and agriculture had almost come to a naught here.

“Undeclared power cut is what affects us, because we do not know when power is cut and supplied. This undeclared power cut, which happens up to 10 times a day, has affected weaving and agriculture.”

Farmers, who had gone in for drip irrigation, were not able to operate pump sets and water fields, because of which they were turning debtors.

Similarly, the weavers suffered continuous interruption in the work because of the power cut.

They were not able to execute orders in time, leading to not only loss of revenue but also business, Mr. Ponnaiyan said.

Bharathi, also from RYF, said students who returned from school, were unable to study because of the power cut and children were unable to sleep in the absence of power. Anbalagan of traders’ association said unwanted elements were taking advantage of the power cut by stealing goods from shops.

K.R.P. Thambidurai of powerloom weavers’ association blamed the Government for what he called power mismanagement.

The leaders who led the protests also took exception to Tamil Nadu Electricity Board officials’ response at a meeting held on Wednesday.

The officers had reportedly expressed their helplessness in solving the issue.

The protesters wanted the Government to stick to the declared power cut schedule, so that the weavers and farmers could make a living.

Soon thereafter as the protesters attempted to block the Erode road, the police took them into preventive custody. The police said around 500 persons, including 100 women, had been taken into custody.

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